ON BL. MARTIN DE PORRES, PROFESSED TERTIARY O.S.D.,
IN THE YEAR 1639
PRELIMINARY COMMENTARY
Martin de Porres, professed tertiary O.S.D. (Bl.)
BY F. V. O.
[1] Several Lives of Martin, The Life of Martin de Porres, a religious donatus or professed tertiary of the Order of Friars Preachers, who, a Peruvian by nation, was born at Lima on the 9th of December 1579 and was taken from among the living there on the 3rd of November 1639, has been related by several hagiographers of the same religious family. Among these it is useful to name Bernardo de Medina [Vida prodigiosa del venerable siervo de Dios Fr. Martin de Porras natural de Lima de la Tercera Orden de nuestro Padre S. Domingo por el Padre Presentado F. Bernardo de Medina natural de la misma ciudad de los Reyes, Regente de los Estudios del convento del Rosario de Lima y Prior electo del convento de Santo Tomas de Guanuco, del Orden de Predicadores. En Lima, Juan de Quevedo y Zarate, 1673. In-12, 13 ff. + 127 ff. + 2 ff.. It was published again at Madrid in the year 1675, but with the prologue of the first edition and a clause of about fifteen lines omitted, other laudatory poems of the preface substituted, and some words changed here and there.], Domenico Maria Marchese Sacro Diario Domenicano, vol. VI (Naples, 1681), pp. 6–24., Juan Meléndez [Tesoros verdaderos de las Yndias en la Historia de la gran Provincia de San Juan Bautista del Peru de el Orden de Predicadores, vol. III (Rome, 1682), pp. 201–346.], Manuel de Lima Agiologio Dominico, vol. IV (Lisbon, 1712), pp. 297–317., a certain anonymous author of Palermo [Prodigiosa et Ammirabile Vita del gran servo di Dio F. Martino Porres, Terziario Professo dell' Ordine del glorioso Patriarca S. Domenico. Palermo, 1696.] and Domenico Ponsi [Ristretto della vita, virtù e miracoli del ven. servo di Dio Fr. Martino Porres. Rome, 1732.]. But it is clear to anyone who examines the matter even lightly that the text of Bernardo de Medina was used by the remaining writers word for word, only superfluous ornaments being cut away and his prolix and swollen style somewhat thinned. Although they too, with the exception of Meléndez, rashly affirm that they drew their material both from the original author and from the processes of beatification. This latter source Bernardo de Medina frequently drew on, as he rightly asserts in the prologue of the work, "sacado del proceso de las informaciones y originales autenticos la verdad" the truth drawn from the process of the informations and authentic originals; it was also frequented by the most recent biographers, Angelo Vincenzo Modena O.P. [Vita del B. Martino de Porres, terziario professo dell' Ordine de' Predicatori nella provincia de S. Giovanni Battista del Perù. Rome, 1837.] and José Manuel Valdez [Vida admirable del Bienaventurado Fray Martin de Porres, published again by José Andrés de Neira Valbuena. Lima, 1863.], who compiled the Life of Blessed Martin on the occasion of his beatification.
[2] the first of which has escaped us: Nor was Bernardo de Medina the very first who deliberately handed down the deeds of Blessed Martin to the memory of posterity. For he himself somewhere relates a certain portent, as it was declared by a religious man "who wrote the Life of the venerable brother" Op. cit., book II, chap. VIII, fol. 74.. Whether this was a certain Peruvian, a member of the Peruvian province O.P., Adrián de Alessio by name, who died in the year 1653, by whom Juan Meléndez testified that a Life of Martin was written in the Castilian language Op. cit., vol. III, pp. 695–96., I have investigated in vain, just as I have sought the little work itself in vain. Finally, there exists at Rome, in the archive of the house of the Generals of the Order of Preachers, a manuscript codex, in 4° format, of 39 leaves, in which is preserved the Vita del servo di Dio Fr. Martino Poras dell' ordine de' Predicatori, Terziario Professo, cavata dalli processi fatti per la sua canonizazione; but this entirely reproduces the narration of Fr. Marchese mentioned above, and consequently flows back into the book of Bernardo de Medina.
[3] Further, with how great a fame of holiness the servant of God contemporary necrological notices; Martin was exalted is abundantly shown by the necrological notice inserted in the Acts of the Provincial Chapter of Peru of the Order of Preachers, which two years after his
death followed. It runs thus: In the convent of Lima died Martin de Porras, a donatus of wonderful virtue and holiness; a man treading in the footsteps of the first fathers of our religion, he was distinguished for penance and abstinence; he so exercised himself in bestowing alms on the poor that he seemed a fountain of piety and almsgiving, since he daily opened his hand to the needy and stretched out his palms to the poor, and was always thinking how to give bread to the little ones asking for it. Proverbs 31:20. His charity shone forth greatly towards the brethren who fell sick; given to continual prayer, he spent nights almost entirely sleepless; having cast his own passions far away, he gazed with intent mind on the things that are God's; he had no bed of his own; in short, he was a mirror of holiness and religion in this whole city of Lima. Truly a most happy death corresponded to so prodigious a life, since at it, the whole people running together of their own accord, his bodily absence being so lamented, both clergy and people who attended his burial reverently kissed his hands and feet [Acts of the Provincial Chapter of Peru, of this province of St. John the Baptist, in the metropolitan convent of St. Mary of the Rosary of Lima of the Order of Preachers, celebrated on the 24th of July in the year of the Lord 1641 (Lima, 1641), fol. H2v. The same translated into Spanish in Meléndez, op. cit., p. 200.]. This praise was confirmed, and indeed amplified, by the general assembly held at Rome in the year 1656, where public request was first made for collecting documents for Martin's beatification. In the province of St. John the Baptist of Peru, they say, Fr. Martin de Porras, donatus, left behind him a very strong and constant reputation of wonderful uprightness. As long as he lived, he always excelled in great charity towards the poor and the sick, so much so that throughout this whole kingdom he was acclaimed the common father and consoler of the afflicted. Three times each night he chastised his body with a hard scourge; he had no other bed than the steps of the altars, either in the choir or in the chapter. He kept his virginity perpetually unblemished. He shone in humility, patience and rigid observance of the holy constitutions; he suffered frequent and wonderful ecstasies of mind, and no less, in the hour of his blessed passing, was he refreshed by God with extraordinary favors and consolations. At his funeral, together with the archbishop of Mexico, then present at Lima, there attended the viceroy, the royal audiencia, the metropolitan chapter, the senate and the religious orders, while meanwhile he was openly called by the mixed multitude a man of extraordinary uprightness. Before he was carried into the sepulcher, the people flowing round, little pieces of his garments were torn off, all eagerly seeking some relic of him, nor could the rapacious and violent devotion of the fervent multitude be sufficiently restrained. Of these and other considerable things authentic informations are being taken there by the Ordinary of the place, to be presented to the sacred senate of Rites [Acts of the General Chapter at Rome in the convent of St. Mary above Minerva of the Order of Preachers, celebrated on the feast of Holy Pentecost, the 4th of June 1656 (Rome, 1656), p. 161.].
[4] a nearly contemporary threefold informative process, Of these informations, according to the processes drawn up by ordinary authority in the years 1660 and 1664 and the process prolonged by apostolic authority from the year 1678 to the year 1686, there exists at Rome, in the generalitial house of the Order of Preachers, a manuscript copy, made up of ten thick volumes, of larger 8° format, in very large writing, marked X.459 up to X.468: which the Most Rev. Fr. Frühwirth, in his kindness, generously shared with us. of which there exists And this is the sum of them:
Codex marked X.459, of 542 leaves, besides an appendix of 87 leaves, in which the recognition of the body of the venerable servant of God carried out by physicians is minutely described. a manuscript copy,
Fol. 1v: Informative process fabricated by ordinary authority in the regions concerning the life and virtues of the servant of God, Brother Martin de Porres, of the Order of Preachers, presented to the Sacred Congregation of Rites on the 24th of August, and opened on the 10th of November 1662. It is, as is announced on the very front of the volume, "a copy of the translation of the process." After some juridical statements,
Fol. 7v–12v: twenty questions are enumerated, to be put to each witness.
Fol. 15–542: there are examined, from the 17th of June 1660, sixty-six witnesses, among whom 25 Friars Preachers.
Codex marked X.460, of 560 leaves.
The process instituted at Lima by apostolic authority from the year 1678 begins. The witnesses are questioned partly or entirely on 84 articles. In this volume are contained the depositions of five witnesses.
Codex marked X.461, of 704 leaves. The same process continues, witnesses 6–23 being questioned. At the end it is noted that the translation from the Spanish language into the Italian language was completed at Rome on the 28th of October 1708.
Codex marked 461bis, of 711 leaves. At the beginning thus: 3rd volume of the Process of Lima in specie constructed by apostolic authority. The depositions of witnesses 24–56 come forth.
Codex marked X.461ter, of 704 leaves. Depositions of witnesses 57–98.
Codex marked X. 462, of 650 leaves. Depositions of witnesses 99–125.
Codex marked X.463, of 722 leaves.
Fol. 2–694v: Depositions of witnesses 127–164. From the whole series of witnesses 24 Friars Preachers appeared.
Fol. 694v–707: Juridical formulae.
Fol. 707–712v: Questions to be put to the witnesses.
Fol. 712v–722: Errors are corrected and the transcription is confirmed as genuine.
Codex marked X.464, of 367 leaves. Volume VII of the process instituted by apostolic authority. After some juridical matters.
Fol. 19–45v: summary depositions of the witnesses examined concerning cult not paid to the servant of God.
Fol. 28, the certificate of baptism of the venerable servant of God is inserted.
Fol. 54–313: Informatione sommaria fatta per parte del convento di Nostra Signora del Rosario dell' Ordine de' Predicatori di questa città, toccanti alla Vita del ven. Fratello Fra Martino de Porres. That is, the testimonies brought forward by trustworthy men, who were questioned during the process drawn up by ordinary authority in the year 1660 (cf. codex X.459), are summarized. Thereafter they were used, in a style somewhat corrected, while the cause of beatification was being conducted before the judges of the Sacred Congregation of Rites.
Fol. 313v–347: There follow the depositions of the witnesses examined in the additional informative process, that is, in the year 1664. The witnesses were eleven in number, of whom seven were Friars Preachers.
Fol. 348–349: Access to the sepulcher, church and convent, and their visitation from outside.
Fol. 349v ff.: The usual juridical formulae are brought forward and errors are emended.
Codex marked X. 465, of 257 leaves. Eighth volume of the process in specie constructed at Lima by apostolic authority. In this volume are contained the things that were done in the year 1686. Below one reads: Giacomo Sassi, notary, chancellor and archivist of the said Sacred Congregation.
Fol. 2–102: First of all witnesses are questioned "concerning the good fame and repute of the witnesses examined both in the informative process and in the remissorial one constructed by apostolic authority." The formula of attestation always recurs the same.
Fol. 3–6: Tenor of the list of witnesses examined by apostolic authority.
Fol. 6–7: Tenor of the list of witnesses examined by ordinary authority in the processes of 1660 and 1664 and now dead. Of 74 witnesses, 55 were dead.
Fol. 7–8: Tenor of the list of witnesses examined concerning the good fame of the witnesses examined by both ordinary and apostolic authority.
Fol. 102v–110: Extraction of the death entries of witnesses not re-examined in the present process: from the books of the parishes in which they died. That is, it is recorded on what day and year the funeral of each was held.
Fol. 110v–113: Names of the deceased witnesses of the Order of Friars Preachers, as the Acts of the provincial chapters of the Peruvian province of St. John the Baptist from the year 1662 to the year 1673 record them and are wont to praise them.
Fol. 113v–120: Passages extracted from some manuscript and printed books, presented by the Procurator of the cause, which seemed to bear on the holiness of the venerable Martin de Porres. Thus are brought forward: the Acts of the provincial chapters Cf. above, n. 3.. What was taken from them is published in the Summarium, pp. 380–81, where exactly the same leaves of the manuscript volume are indicated. Then the Chronica della religiosissima provincia delli dodici Apostoli del Perù dell' ordine del nostro serafico Padre S. Francesco, by Fra Diego de Córdoba Salinas (Lima, 1651), fol. 148v; the Life of the venerable servant of God Toribio Alfonso Mogrovejo, archbishop of Lima, by the study of Brother Cipriano de Herrera (Rome, 1670); the Informazione al nostro R. P. M. Generale dell' Ordine de' Predicatori fra Giovanni Battista de Marinis, che gli offerse il Presentato fra Antonio de Acuna (Madrid, 1659), f. 217v; finally the very Life of the venerable Martin de Porres written by Bernardo de Medina See above, n. 1.. Although, if you except the last Life, what was derived from those books is rather slight.
Fol. 120v–124: Report of Cardinal Vidoni, published in the Summarium, pp. 381–83.
Fol. 124v–125: Certificate of baptism of the venerable servant of God, published ibid., p. 19.
Fol. 127–148v: Declaration or narration made by Juan Vásquez Parra in the year 1671. He, for four years a most closely attached servant of Martin de Porras, had already, as the thirtieth witness during the process of 1660, expressed the same things more briefly.
Fol. 166v–197v: Visitation of the sepulcher and body of the servant of God, on the 7th of October 1686.
Fol. 197v–216: Three messengers are designated, namely Fra Francesco dell' Arco, procurator of the cause, Fra Pietro Rodríguez and Fra Sancho de Marañón, lector of theology, to carry the process to Rome.
Fol. 216–219v: Attestation of the religious profession of the venerable servant of God Martin, copied from the book of professions of the convent of the Most Holy Rosary, published in the Summarium, pp. 23–24.
Fol. 219v–257v: Juridical formulae concerning the collation of the volumes declared authentic and concerning the sealing and wrapping of the volumes which are to be sent to Rome.
Codex marked X.468, of 698 leaves. Ninth volume of the process in specie constructed at Lima by apostolic authority. All the errors are described and corrected which were found by collating the eight volumes of this copy with the archetypal translation.
[5] according to which the acts of Blessed Martin were discussed, These, then, are the early records by which the acts of the venerable servant of God may be properly known, and beyond which nothing new about him can be found. From these innumerable small passages were diligently plucked and distributed under certain headings to form the Summarium on the doubt whether the theological and cardinal virtues and those annexed to them in heroic degree are established Rome, 1721, in-8°, 383 pp., which was used again and again, as is the custom of the Sacred Congregation of Rites, by those who examined the cause of beatification juridically. It is also expedient to note that they performed their office not by adhering to the original Spanish text of the processes, but, as experts know, to the Italian version, which was declared genuine after careful inspection. The copy of the Dominican archive, however, which at Rome before the eyes
I had, agrees exactly with this genuine translation, as is clear from the manuscript codex X.468, which within its 698 leaves contains nothing else than the collation of the process transcribed through the eight preceding volumes. At the end of this volume is added this attestation of the notary: The present copy of the ninth volume of the remissorial and compulsorial Process concerning the holiness of life, virtues and miracles in specie of the venerable servant of God Brother Martin de Porres, layman of the order of St. Dominic, extracted from the original Translation made from the Spanish into the Italian idiom as above, and revised as above, having been faithfully and diligently collated and checked by me with it, I have found to agree with the same, and it agrees. Of which I make faith, saving always, etc. And in faith I have subscribed myself on this 5th day of December 1712. So it is. Cosimo Antonio de Bernardinis, Notary of the Sacred Congregation of Rites, and from which was compiled Chancellor and Archivist [From the codex marked X.461, fol. 704, it is established that the translation of the apostolic process was completed on the 28th of October 1708 and the transcription partly made on the 19th of August 1712.].
Moreover, several marks written in the margins show that from this series of codices, and not from another, were taken the innumerable passages of the processes which made up the Summarium indicated above. It is expedient to transcribe the Index of this Summarium here.
[6] Summary of his virtues. No. 1. Catalogue of the witnesses examined by ordinary and apostolic authority.
No. 2. Decree of the Sacred Congregation of Rites, by which the validity of the processes drawn up in this cause by ordinary and apostolic authority was approved.
No. 3. On the birth, parents and deeds of the servant of God in boyhood.
No. 4. Certificate of baptism of the servant of God.
No. 5. On the entry of the servant of God into the religion of St. Dominic, and his profession.
No. 6. Entry of the profession of the servant of God.
No. 7. On the heroic degree of the virtues of the venerable servant of God.
No. 8. On the greatness of the faith of the servant of God.
No. 9. On the firm and heroic hope of the servant of God.
No. 10. On his most ardent charity towards God.
No. 11. On the same charity from the purity of conscience of the servant of God.
No. 12. On the extraordinary devotion of the servant of God towards the most august Sacrament of the Eucharist.
No. 13. On the continual prayer, meditation and contemplation of the servant of God.
No. 14. On the extraordinary charity of the servant of God towards his neighbor from zeal for the salvation of souls.
No. 15. On the same charity of the servant of God from almsgiving.
No. 16. On the same charity towards the sick.
No. 17. On the charity, or piety, and command of the servant of God over animals.
No. 18. On the remarkable prudence of the servant of God.
No. 19. On the singular justice of the servant of God.
No. 20. On the worship of the servant of God towards God, the Blessed Virgin and the saints.
No. 21. On the most perfect obedience and respect of the servant of God towards his superiors and other persons placed in dignity.
No. 22. On the heroic fortitude of the servant of God from the mortifications of his body and other penances.
No. 23. On the same fortitude of the servant of God in bearing injuries and reproaches.
No. 24. On the same fortitude and patience of the servant of God in his infirmities.
No. 25. On the same fortitude and patience in tribulations and the harassments of demons.
No. 26. On the temperance of the servant of God and his wonderful abstinence and sobriety.
No. 27. On the sparingness of sleep and the vigils of the servant of God.
No. 28. On the poverty of the servant of God.
No. 29. On the remarkable modesty of the servant of God and the composure of his body.
No. 30. On the extraordinary chastity and virginity of the servant of God.
No. 31. On the singular affability and gentleness of the servant of God.
No. 32. On the most profound humility of the servant of God.
No. 33. On the gift of prophecy.
No. 34. On the gift of searching hearts.
No. 35. On the gift of knowledge and wisdom.
No. 36. On the gift of tongues.
No. 37. On the gift of agility and the bilocations of the body of the servant of God.
No. 38. On the apparition of angels.
No. 39. On the ecstasies and raptures of the servant of God.
No. 40. On the river which at the command of the servant of God at once subsided.
No. 41. On the olive grove planted by the servant of God, which sprouted on the next day.
No. 42. On a dead man called back to life through the prayer of the servant of God.
No. 43. On the fame of holiness in life.
No. 44. On the prediction of his death.
No. 45. On the most happy death of the servant of God.
No. 46. On the concourse after death and at the funeral of the servant of God, and also on the supernatural pliancy and fragrance of his body.
No. 47. On the burial of the body of the servant of God.
No. 48. On the translation of the body of the servant of God into another sepulcher made in the year 1664, and on the incorruption and fragrance of the same body.
No. 49. Catalogue of the miracles after death.
No. 50. On the fame of holiness after death.
No. 51. From the acts of the provincial chapter of Peru celebrated on the 24th of July 1641.
No. 52. From the acts of the general chapter celebrated at Valencia in the year 1643.
No. 53. From the acts of the general chapter celebrated at Rome in the year 1656.
No. 54. From the acts of the provincial chapter of Peru celebrated on the 24th of July 1685.
No. 55. Report on the virtues and holiness of the servant of God, made to the Sacred Congregation of Rites by Cardinal Vidoni of illustrious memory.
[7] From this it appears that Martin was the illegitimate son of a certain knight. Now whoever has attentively gone through this Summarium or the manuscript volumes from which it was formed will certainly wonder how few things occur there about the birth and years of boyhood of the venerable servant of God. He drew a humble, or rather an unseemly, origin. For he was born of the illegitimate intercourse of a noble man, Juan de Porras, knight of the order of Alcántara, with Ana Velásquez, a black or mulatto woman, as they say, not a slave, but a free inhabitant of the city of Panama Summarium, pp. 13–14.. And although in the certificate of baptism he is called the son of an unknown father Ibid., p. 19., he was nevertheless openly acknowledged by his father himself and brought up as a Christian, and was declared his natural son in his will Ibid., p. 16.. But compelled by his spurious condition to procure a means of living for himself, he learned the art of barber and surgeon: which the outcome of events showed to have been done by divine providence.
[8] Having become a tertiary of St. Dominic, It would be superfluous, and indeed futile, to follow in detail and chronologically the even life of the most pure and most pious youth. Scarcely fifteen years old, he gave his name to the Order of St. Dominic as a donatus or lay tertiary, and after the year of novitiate he was admitted on the 2nd of June in the year 1603 to the solemn profession of the three vows, which was very rarely granted to donati at this period Ibid., p. 23.. Throughout the whole course of his religious life he acted as infirmarian with the highest humility, patience and gentleness. Most observant of the rules, although he devoted himself to the highest contemplation, he was nevertheless assiduous and most devoted in caring for the sick. he excelled above all in mercy; He shone in mercy not only towards any persons in distress, but also towards brute animals, so that he seemed a new Francis of Assisi: which will be clearly evident in the examples to be adduced below. I have in hand an image engraved at Rome in the year 1733, in which the eminent servant of God is represented in a certain sacristy in the midst of mice, which he is driving into a basket. And on the lower part these words are read: The Ven. Fr. Martin de Porres, Peruvian, Professed Tertiary of the Order of Preachers, commands the mice to betake themselves into the basket and no longer dare to gnaw the things which are kept in the sacristy. Which opinion of his power over mice grew so much in Italy that, from the time when the cause of his beatification was introduced, it is firmly believed that these animals will by no means do harm wherever his image is set out, and to this present day he is commonly reckoned Il Santo contro i sorci the Saint against the mice [D. Ponsi, Ristretto della vita di Fr. Martino Porres (Rome, 1732), in the Prologue to the reader. Moreover, Bernardo de Medina himself, in the Life published in the year 1673, already alludes to the sacred image of Martin himself made at Rome: "That man is to be pronounced prodigious," he says, "por los inauditos portentos de su vida, que se intitula prodigiosa en una estampa del siervo de Dios, que se hizo en Roma." [for the unheard-of portents of his life, which is entitled prodigious in a print of the servant of God that was made in Rome.] (Book II, chap. 12, f. 88).].
[9] and famous for prodigies, Moreover, innumerable are the prodigies which he is reported to have wrought, and which, after various mishaps and dangers of the sea having been carried to Rome [Positio super dubio an constet de validitate processuum (Rome, 1714), Informatio, p. 2.] and having begun to be sifted before the Sacred Congregation of Rites, but having been abandoned for a long interval because of the civil disturbances of the eighteenth century, finally brought the beatification of the venerable servant of God to a happy outcome under Gregory XVI on the eighth day of August 1837. he was beatified by Gregory XVI, The supreme Pontiff granted that his feast be celebrated with office and Mass in the whole Order of Preachers and in the diocese of Lima on the fifth day of November So in the bull of beatification..
[10] Among the abundant documents which illustrate his life, It remains for us to discuss something about the original written records to be published by us. I will say it in a word: we are oppressed by abundance rather than by want, as usually happens with men eminent for holiness who died after the sixteenth century and whose deeds were investigated with method and order among their contemporaries. But when it is a question of those who led a very obscure life, although adorned with singular virtue, always the same and constant with itself, how can history, how can piety retain those minute details which a cloud of witnesses or contemporaries has deposited? A measure must therefore be applied, so indeed that a right knowledge of the man of God may be acquired without producing weariness.
[11] the deposition of Bernardo de Medina O.P. will be published, With this norm set before us, among the very many testimonies about Blessed Martin which were juridically taken down in the course of the processes, we have selected the statements of Bernardo de Medina, O.P., although both in the printed Life and before the judges he set down, as a well-informed man, not what he himself saw as spectator and companion, but what he received from others. But the most weighty man, who discharged important offices in his order, as he himself confesses at the beginning of his deposition, embraced the rule of St. Dominic in the year 1649 [This is easily deduced from the beginning of his declaration. For in the year 1683, in which he testified before the apostolic judge, he had already put on the Dominican habit thirty-four years before.], that is, ten years after Blessed Martin had died; a most weighty witness, at which time there still dwelt in the minds of many old religious a lively remembrance of the most holy and extraordinary life of their contemporary companion, and a burning desire that it should not perish. Therefore they again and again urged Bernardo de Medina, in whose talent they trusted, to write his acts.
Molti religiosi anziani, he says himself, che lo conobbero e esaminarono le sue virtù esercitate in grado eroico, dimandorono con replicate instanze a questo testimonio che scrivesse la vita del detto servo di Dio per darla alle stampe. E in questo particolare gli dissero alcuni certe azioni particolari, quali viddero, notorono e seppero con tutta certezza e purità, et altri altre [Many old religious who knew him and examined his virtues exercised in heroic degree asked this witness with repeated entreaties to write the life of the said servant of God in order to give it to the press. And in this particular some told him certain particular actions, which they saw, noted and knew with all certainty and purity, and others other ones] Cf. below, his Deposition, n. 2.. Thus spurred on, the author himself neglected no way of inquiry, above all summoning to himself and religiously questioning Juan Vásquez Parra, who for four years (1634–38) was the assiduous attendant of the venerable servant of God and bound to him by intimate familiarity [Bernardo de Medina, op. cit., f. 124. Cf. the manuscript process, volume marked X. 465, f. 129v.], nor, after completing the Life, does he hesitate to boast before the apostolic judges della buona volontà e pontualità con la quale assistè per haver notizia della sua prodigiosa vita, e per mezzo di persone fide digne, e con molte carte, che riconobbe, nelle quali si parlava della sua santità e virtù [of the good will and punctuality with which he applied himself to obtain knowledge of his prodigious life, both by means of trustworthy persons and with many papers, which he examined, in which his holiness and virtue were spoken of] Cf. below, his Deposition, n. 49..
[12] who offers an entire view of the whole life of Martin. Furnished with these aids, he was able to set forth the deeds and sayings of the venerable Martin most truthfully; neither faithfulness nor diligence failed him. But what the biographer perhaps unrolled in his published book with too rhetorical an eloquence, these things, as a competent and informed reporter cited during the apostolic process, he considered more maturely, contracted, and set forth plainly and clearly, so that, while the other witnesses bring forward as it were scattered limbs, he, relying on the highest authorities approved by himself, is able to set out plainly a view of the whole subject, no otherwise than if it were an original document. Such favor indeed did he enjoy with the judges of the cause of beatification that, the apostolic process having been completed, he was among the few questioned in a special way about the knowledge and uprightness of those, both dead and surviving, who had borne testimony in the course of the threefold process. This request he satisfied on the 16th of August 1686, enumerating and commending 45 witnesses of the last inquiry still living, and 40 witnesses of both of the earlier processes of the years 1660 and 1664 who had died: all of whom he had known most thoroughly Manuscript process, volume marked X. 465, f. 41r–45..
[13] His chief authorities. From this throng he seems, if his deposition is considered, to have taken as his chief guarantors of the truth 1) Juan de Barbarán Lascano O.P. See below, p. 7.. He appeared as the seventh witness in the year 1660 and the second in the year 1664 in the informative process Summarium, pp. 3 and 5., and before 1678, as the Acts of a certain provincial chapter of the Peruvian province of St. John the Baptist record, he died in the Lima convent of the Rosary of the B.V.M., "master in sacred theology, censor of the holy Inquisition, doctor in the royal university, and provincial of the Peruvian province" Manuscript process, volume marked X. 465, f. 112v.. 2) Antonio de Morales O.P., who at 72 years of age was cited as the first witness in the apostolic process Summarium, p. 6., formerly prior provincial, and afterwards elected bishop of Concepción in Chile, "while for love of his own flock he was making a journey, suffered shipwreck in the harbor and as a true shepherd laid down his life for his sheep" Process, vol. cit., f. 113. about the year 1683 Gams, Series episcoporum, p. 144.. 3) Gaspar de Saldaña O.P., confessor of the venerable servant of God, the third witness of the first process Summarium, p. 3., "who, master in sacred theology, formerly exercised the office of prior of this convent of Lima not once but again and again with virtue and prudence" and died between the years 1664 and 1667 Process, vol. cit., f. 111v.. 4) Cristóbal de Toro O.P., master in sacred theology, professor and qualificator of the Holy Office, the twenty-third witness of the apostolic process Summarium, p. 7.. 5) Fernando de Valdez O.P., master in sacred theology, the twenty-sixth witness of the process of 1660 and the sixth of the process of 1678 Ibid., pp. 4 and 6.. 6) Francisco de Velasco O.P., preacher, parish priest and confessor of the servant of God, the fifth witness of the first process and the seventh of the last Ibid., pp. 3 and 6.. All of whom were still living when the last hand was put to the apostolic inquiry. But besides these he assiduously consulted two confreres who are nowhere found among the witnesses of the cause of beatification, I mean Bernardo de Salinas O.P. and Matías de San Vicente, a lay brother of the same order, who had already died in the year 1673.
[14] Hence his deposition is especially to be commended. With these various authorities, whom he calls again and again to vouch for his statements, he produced a testimony on the life and character of the venerable servant of God that is sincere, truthful and entire. We have therefore had it printed, only the punctuation of the words being changed, so that the sentences might be more easily grasped. The sources, as far as possible, we have indicated in notes.
OF BERNARDO DE MEDINA O.P.
Martin de Porres, professed tertiary O.S.D. (Bl.)
BERNARDO DE MEDINA
Deposition of the 133rd witness cited at Lima during the apostolic process on the 18th and 19th of October 1683 Manuscript process, volume marked X.463, f. 97v–156v..
[1] f. 102 Si chiama Fra Bernardo de Medina, e che è naturale di questa città dei Re, Bernardinus de Medina discharged ample and varied offices in his Order. ed è di cinquanti anni d'età, e chei i suoi genitori furono Diego de Medina e Donna Giose de Salinas, e che il suo stato è di religioso sacerdote dell' Ordine de' Predicatori, e che nel suo convento lesse un corso di filosofia, e un altro di Teologia e di Sacra Scrittura per 8 anni, e che fu Regente maggiore dei studij più di trè anni nel convento principale di Nostra Signora del Rosario di questa città [Lima, namely, in the kingdom of Peru, as also the other cities whose names follow.]. E che fù sostituito nella Reale Università di S. Marco di questa città alla Catedra di prima di Teologia morale per lo spazio di un anno e mezzo con nomina del Rettore della detta Università, e che è stato Priore del convento f. 102v di S. Tomaso della città di Guanuco, e segretario compagno d'un Provinciale, e che ancora fu Visitatore e Vicario Provinciale del Vescovato di Truxillo, e Provincie de Gailas e Conciucos, e del detto convento di Ganico, e che è qualificatore del santo Tribunale dell' Inquisitione di questo Regno, e che è graduato di Maestro nella sua Religione, e che è povero di voto solenne per la professione che fece [Here is inserted, somewhat more diffusely, the oath to tell the truth, which it is permissible to omit for the sake of brevity.].
[He is called Fra Bernardo de Medina, and he is a native of this City of the Kings, and is fifty years of age, and his parents were Diego de Medina and Doña Giose de Salinas, and his state is that of a religious priest of the Order of Preachers, and in his convent he taught a course of philosophy, and another of Theology and of Sacred Scripture, for 8 years, and he was senior Regent of studies for more than three years in the principal convent of Our Lady of the Rosary of this city. And he was substitute in the Royal University of St. Mark of this city in the Chair of prime of moral Theology for the space of a year and a half by nomination of the Rector of the said University, and he has been Prior of the convent of St. Thomas of the city of Guanuco, and secretary-companion of a Provincial, and he was also Visitor and Provincial Vicar of the Bishopric of Truxillo, and of the Provinces of Gailas and Conciucos, and of the said convent of Ganico, and he is qualificator of the holy Tribunal of the Inquisition of this Kingdom, and he is graduated as Master in his Religion, and he is poor by solemn vow through the profession which he made.]
[2] f. 103 In quanto alla settima delle dette dimande disse questo testimonio che sà per haverlo udito dir generalmente, He wrote the Life of Brother Martin de Porres, e per publico e costante, e per esser uniforme tradizione ricevuta dagl' uni agl' altri, e con maggiore specialità frà i religiosi del suo Ordine, che visse nel detto convento di Nostra Signora del Rosario di questa città (di dove questo testimonio è conventuale) un religioso che fu donato del detto Ordine e professo, di color Morato, quali volgarmente chiamano in questi paesi Mulati, chiamato Frà Martino de Porres, e che visse con fama, credito e stima di santo, per le sue eroiche virtù. E per queste ragioni molti religiosi anziani, che lo conobbero e esaminorono le sue virtù esercitate in grado eroico, dimandorono con replicate instanze à questo testimonio, che scrivesse la vita del detto servo di Dio per darle alle stampe. at the urging and admonition of many confreres who had known him well, E in questo particolare gli dissero alcuni certe azzioni particolari, quali viddero, notorono e seppero con tutta certezza e purità, et altri altre. Et in questa conformità tutti generalmente f. 103v avvisorono e notificorono a questo testimonio quanto eccellente fu il detto servo di Dio in ogni genere di virtù, con ammirazione e edificazione di tutti, e si ricorda con maggior specialità, che gli le notificorono li RR. PP. Magistri Fra Gio. de Barbaran e Fra Bernardo de Salinas, e l'Illmo Sigre D. Fra Antonio de Morales Vescovo della città della Concezzione del Chile, e il fratello Fra Mattia de S. Vincenzo On these authorities brought forward by Bernardo, cf. Prelim. Comm., no. 13., il quale già è morto, et altri de quali hora non si ricorda, e questo risponde [These last words, which recur very often at the end of the articles, we have thought should be disregarded hereafter.].
[As to the seventh of the said questions, this witness said that he knows, from having heard it said generally, and as public and constant, and as being a uniform tradition received from one to another, and most especially among the religious of his Order, that there lived in the said convent of Our Lady of the Rosary of this city (where this witness is a conventual) a religious who was a donatus of the said Order and professed, of dark color, such as in these countries are commonly called Mulattoes, named Fra Martin de Porres, and that he lived with the fame, credit and esteem of a saint, for his heroic virtues. And for these reasons many old religious, who knew him and examined his virtues exercised in heroic degree, asked this witness with repeated entreaties to write the life of the said servant of God in order to give it to the press. And in this particular some told him certain particular actions, which they saw, noted and knew with all certainty and purity, and others other ones. And in this agreement all in general informed and notified this witness how excellent the said servant of God was in every kind of virtue, to the admiration and edification of all; and he remembers most especially that they were notified to him by the Rev. Fathers Masters Fra Juan de Barbarán and Fra Bernardo de Salinas, and the Most Illustrious Lord Don Fra Antonio de Morales, Bishop of the city of Concepción in Chile, and the brother Fra Matías de San Vicente, who is now dead, and others whom he does not now remember; and this he answers.]
[3] and he trusts very greatly in the patronage of the servant of God. In quanto all' ottava delle dette dimande disse questo testimonio, che informato dalli religiosi anziani delle maraviglie, che Iddio Nostro Sigre fà in comprova delle virtù eccellenti e santità del detto suo servo Fra Martino de Porres, e di quelle che continuamente stà facendo mediante la di lui invocazione, reliquie, e stampe, e terra della sua sepoltura, ha havuto ed ha gran devozione con il detto servo di Dio; e si è valsuto e si vale del suo patrocinio, acciòche sua divina Maestà lo favorisca e gli dia la sua divina grazia per servirlo; e che in quanto al suo desiderio, affetto e devozione, sottoponendosi però alla determinazione della Santa Sede Apostolica, desidera grandemente di vederlo beatificato e canonizato.
[As to the eighth of the said questions, this witness said that, informed by the old religious of the wonders which God our Lord works in proof of the excellent virtues and holiness of his said servant Fra Martin de Porres, and of those which he is continually working through his invocation, relics, and prints, and earth from his grave, he has had and has great devotion to the said servant of God; and he has availed himself and avails himself of his patronage, so that his divine Majesty may favor him and give him his divine grace to serve him; and that as to his desire, affection and devotion, submitting himself however to the determination of the Holy Apostolic See, he desires greatly to see him beatified and canonized.]
[4] By universal and constant fame In quanto alla nona delle dette dimande disse questo testimonio che sà per costante, e certo, e legitima tradizione, e per f. 104 haverlo udito dire da tutti i religiosi che erano vivi, quando questo testimonio prese l'abito nel detto convento di Nostra Signora del Rosario, che è poco più di trenta quattro anni, che tutti dicevano et hoggi
[As to the ninth of the said questions, this witness said that he knows by constant, and certain, and legitimate tradition, and from having heard it said by all the religious who were alive when this witness took the habit in the said convent of Our Lady of the Rosary, which is a little more than thirty-four years ago, that all said and today]
ancora lo dicono quelli che si ricordano d'haver contrattato con il detto servo di Dio Fra Martino di Porres, Martin is reported to have been born at Lima, che questo nacque in questa città di Lima in una contrada che appartiene alla parochia di S. Sebastiano, e che non si ricorda in che giorno, mese, e anno [Here is the tenor of the certificate of baptism, as it was read in the book of baptisms of the church of St. Sebastian in the city of Lima: Mercordì nove di Decembre dell' anno 1579 battezzai Martino figlio di padre non conosciuto, e di Anna Velasquez libera. Furono padrini Giovanni de Ubreosca et Anna de Escariena, e lo sottoscrivo Antonio Polanco [On Wednesday the ninth of December of the year 1579 I baptized Martin, son of an unknown father and of Ana Velásquez, a free woman. The godparents were Juan de Ubreosca and Ana de Escariena, and I sign it, Antonio Polanco] parish priest of the church of St. Sebastian (Summarium cit., p. 19).].
[those who remember having dealt with the said servant of God Fra Martin de Porres still say it, that he was born in this city of Lima in a quarter which belongs to the parish of St. Sebastian, and that he does not remember on what day, month and year.]
[5] In quanto alla decima delle dette dimande disse questo testimonio che sà nella forma riferita negl'antecedenti, che li genitori del detto servo di Dio Fra Martino de Porres furono D. Gio. de Porres cavaliero dell' abito d'Alcantara, of parents of unequal condition, et una negra chriolla libera, chiamata Gioa so after correction; before correction: Giosa. Velasquez, e che fu battezzato nella chiesa parochiale di S. Sebastiano di questa città. Del che procurò di certificarsi assai esattamente per scrivere la vita del detto servo di Dio, quale stampò. E che le medesime persone che gli diedero notizia de suoi genitori, gli dissero parimente che padre e madre erano di coscienza assai buona, e che educorono il detto servo di Dio nel suo santo timore, and piously brought up with one sister, who was of most approved life. desiderando che seguitasse la virtù; e il medesimo procurorono che facesse una figlia che hebbero, chiamata Gioa so after correction; before correction: Giosa de Porres, la quale visse assai esemplarmente in questa città, secondo attestano quelli che la contrattorono e conobbero [So witness XLI of the process of 1660 and witness VII of the process of 1678 (Summarium, pp. 13–14, 15–16).].
[As to the tenth of the said questions, this witness said that he knows, in the form related in the preceding ones, that the parents of the said servant of God Fra Martin de Porres were Don Juan de Porres, knight of the habit of Alcántara, and a free creole negress named Gioa Velásquez, and that he was baptized in the parish church of St. Sebastian of this city. Of which he took care to make himself quite exactly certain in order to write the life of the said servant of God, which he printed. And that the same persons who gave him information about his parents told him likewise that father and mother were of very good conscience, and that they brought up the said servant of God in His holy fear, desiring that he should follow virtue; and they took care that a daughter whom they had, named Gioa de Porres, should do the same, who lived very exemplarily in this city, as those attest who dealt with her and knew her.]
[6] f. 104v In quanto alla duodecima delle dette dimande disse questo testimonio che, Having embraced the religion of St. Dominic, come di già ha detto e riferito nella dimanda settima, sà che il detto servo di Dio Fra Martino de Porres fu religioso donato professo dell' ordine de Predicatori, e che in quanto al giorno, having made his profession, mese e anno che ricevette l'abito e professò, si rimette ai libri delle profezzioni che trattano di questo affare See Prelim. Comm., no. 8., perchè quantunque li riconoscesse e vedesse per scrivere la Vita del detto servo di Dio, he observed the vows and rules most strictly, con tutto ciò non se ne ricorda con puntualità certa. E nella medesima forma sà che nella religione adempì il detto servo di Dio li trè voti che costituiscono con formalità lo stato religioso, e che in essi e in tutti gl'altri operò con tanta esattezza, puntualità e attenzione sì vigilante, che fù celebrato e ammirato da tutti per santo, e perchè visse fino all' ultimo spirito della sua vita piamente e lodevolmente osservando i precetti della dottrina cattolica, and promoted the perfection of others. procurando ancora in tutti i modi, che gl'altri facessero il medesimo [In the last words there are expressed exactly the statements of witness V of the process of 1678. Cf. besides witness VII. Summarium, pp. 20–21.].
[As to the twelfth of the said questions, this witness said that, as he has already said and related in the seventh question, he knows that the said servant of God Fra Martin de Porres was a professed donatus religious of the order of Preachers, and that as to the day, month and year when he received the habit and professed, he refers to the books of professions which treat of this matter, because, although he examined and saw them in order to write the Life of the said servant of God, nevertheless he does not remember it with certain precision. And in the same form he knows that in religion the said servant of God fulfilled the three vows which formally constitute the religious state, and that in them and in all the others he acted with such exactness, punctuality and such vigilant attention that he was celebrated and admired by all as a saint, and because he lived until the last breath of his life piously and laudably observing the precepts of catholic doctrine, taking care also in every way that the others should do the same.]
[7] f. 105 In quanto alla decima terza delle dette dimande disse questo testimonio, che sà per haverlo udito dire generalmente da ogni genere di persone per costante e certo, On the testimony of most trustworthy men, e in particolare dalli detti Illmo Sigr D. Antonio de Morales e Padri Maestri Frà Giovanni de Barbaran e Frà Bernardo de Salinas e dal fratello Frà Mattia de S. Vincenzo, e per publico e notorio frà li religiosi del suo ordine, he burned with most ardent charity towards his neighbor, che il detto servo di Dio frà Martino de Porres, essendo vivo, per le sue eroiche virtù, penitenze e ardente carità che verso i poveri e verso l'animali irragionevoli haveva, hebbe fama, credito e stima di santo, non solo frà le persone di autorità, e di posto superiore nella republica, principali, and his holiness was celebrated everywhere by all. honorate, prudenti, dotte, sì ecclesiastiche come secolari, mà ancora la hebbe frà la gente plebea e ordinaria, e si distese in tutti questi regni, e durò sempre con accrescimento finche morì, senz'haver mai sentito, udito, ò saputo che si sia detta, ò fatta cosa alcuna in contrario.
[As to the thirteenth of the said questions, this witness said that he knows, from having heard it said generally by every kind of person as constant and certain, and in particular from the said Most Illustrious Lord Don Antonio de Morales and the Fathers Masters Fra Juan de Barbarán and Fra Bernardo de Salinas and from the brother Fra Matías de San Vicente, and as public and notorious among the religious of his order, that the said servant of God Fra Martin de Porres, while alive, for his heroic virtues, penances and the ardent charity which he had towards the poor and towards irrational animals, had the fame, credit and esteem of a saint, not only among persons of authority and of superior position in the commonwealth, leading, honored, prudent, learned, ecclesiastical as well as secular, but he had it also among the common and ordinary people, and it spread through all these kingdoms, and lasted always with increase until he died, without his ever having perceived, heard or known that anything was said or done to the contrary.]
[8] f. 105v In quanto alla decima sesta delle dette dimande disse questo testimonio, che sà nella forma riferita nella settima, che il detto servo di Dio Frà Martino de Porres morì in questa città di Lima, He died at Lima in a certain cell of the infirmary, on the 3rd of November 1639, in una delle celle che sono nel chiostro del convento di Nostra Signora del Rosario, dove è l'infermaria, il dì trè Novembre dell'anno mille seicento trentanove, non si ricorda per adesso di qual infermità, ma bensì, che fù la sua fortunata morte con fama, credito e opinione di santo, non solo dei religiosi, ma anche delle persone di maggior stima e posto nella republica, sì ecclesiastiche come secolari. the fame of his holiness having spread very widely, E la medesima gli hebbero tutte le altre persone, dotte, principali, prudenti, e honorate, e tutto il rimanente di gente di f. 106 tutti i stati per le sue virtù, penitenze e vita esemplare. E che da allora è durata e persistita costantemente e fermamente con tutta stima ed applauso generale di tutti, non solo di quelli di questa città, mà ancora di tutti quelli di questo Regno [So witness VII of the process of 1678, who uses the same words several times and thus begins his testimony on the death of the servant of God: Che sà per haverlo visto e per essersi trovato presente That he knows it from having seen it and from having been present. Cf. Summarium, pp. 329–30.], come lo ha provato da che ha uso di ragione, e lo stà vedendo fino al giorno d'hoggi, as Bernardo himself found in the places which he visited. e lo riconobbe ancora in molte città, terre e luoghi, che visitò per ordine del suo superiore, saranno quasi due anni. Ed è certo che sempre è stata continua, e dura senz' essersi giamai dimezzata, nè udito che persona alcuna habbia detto cosa in contrario. E questo testimonio, come ben conoscendo le sue virtù e vita prodigiosa, lo ha tenuto e tiene ancora per santo, e come tale si è valsuto in molte occasioni del suo patrocinio, acciò che Dio lo favorisca e gli conceda la sua divina grazia per servirlo.
[As to the sixteenth of the said questions, this witness said that he knows, in the form related in the seventh, that the said servant of God Fra Martin de Porres died in this city of Lima, in one of the cells which are in the cloister of the convent of Our Lady of the Rosary, where the infirmary is, on the third day of November of the year sixteen hundred thirty-nine; he does not remember at present of what infirmity, but indeed that his fortunate death was with the fame, credit and opinion of a saint, not only among the religious, but also among the persons of greatest esteem and position in the commonwealth, ecclesiastical as well as secular. And all the other persons, learned, leading, prudent and honored, and all the rest of the people of all states, held the same of him for his virtues, penances and exemplary life. And that from then it has lasted and persisted constantly and firmly with all esteem and the general applause of all, not only of those of this city, but also of all those of this Kingdom, as he has experienced it since he had the use of reason, and is seeing it to this very day; and he recognized it also in many cities, towns and places which he visited by order of his superior, it will be almost two years ago. And it is certain that it has always been continuous, and lasts without ever having been diminished, nor has he heard that any person has said anything to the contrary. And this witness, as one knowing well his virtues and prodigious life, has held and still holds him for a saint, and as such has availed himself on many occasions of his patronage, so that God may favor him and grant him his divine grace to serve him.]
[9] In quanto alla decimasettima delle dette dimande disse questo testimonio che sà, secondo e nella forma riferita nella settima, che la prima sepoltura dove posero il detto servo di Dio Frà Martino de Porres quando morì, Martin was buried among the leading men of the Order, fù nella sala del capitolo, dove sotterrano gl'altri religiosi che in detto convento muoiono. E fü sepolto il suo venerabile corpo frà li presentati e predicatori generali della religione, il quale resta diviso dagl'altri con una balaustra f. 106v di legno. E che questa sepoltura gli diedero i superiori per le sue eroiche virtù, e fama, e opinione di santo con la quale era passato da questa all' altra vita. Il che tutto sà per tradizione e notizia partecipata da molti religiosi, li quali conobbero e contrattorono con il detto servo di Dio, until a chapel was built out of his deathbed chamber, e specialmente di quelli, de quali già ha fatto menzione. E sà per haverlo visto, che da questa sepoltura fù trasferito alla cella, nella quale il detto servo di Dio visse, che era nell' infermaria, dove si è fabricata una cappella assai devota, consagrata à Nostro Signore Giesù Cristo Crocefisso, la quale fece fabricare à sue spese Giovanni de Figueroa, già Governatore di questa città, il quale è morto, assai amico del detto servo di Dio [Witness III of the process of 1660 and witness VII of the process of 1678. Summarium, pp. 348 and 349.]. [to which his bones were translated near the altar, and they lie there without any public cult being paid.] E sà che in questo luogo stà sotterrato sotto terra al corno dell' evangelo dell' altare che è in detta cappella. E che in questa sepoltura e nella prima ha visto questo testimonio che non vi è lampada, lumi, voti, ò altre cose alcune, che manifestino culto che le persone habbino dato ò dijno al detto servo di Dio, mà che in tutto si osservano li decreti della Santità di Urbano 8° con tutta diligenza e attenzione, senza permetter cosa alcuna che ad essi anche mediatamente contravenga.
[As to the seventeenth of the said questions, this witness said that he knows, according to and in the form related in the seventh, that the first grave in which they placed the said servant of God Fra Martin de Porres when he died was in the chapter hall, where they bury the other religious who die in the said convent. And his venerable body was buried among the presentati and preachers general of the religion, which part remains divided from the others by a wooden balustrade. And that the superiors gave him this grave for his heroic virtues, and the fame and opinion of a saint with which he had passed from this life to the other. All of which he knows by tradition and information imparted by many religious who knew and dealt with the said servant of God, and especially by those of whom he has already made mention. And he knows from having seen it that from this grave he was transferred to the cell in which the said servant of God lived, which was in the infirmary, where a very devout chapel has been built, consecrated to Our Lord Jesus Christ Crucified, which Juan de Figueroa, formerly Governor of this city, now dead, a great friend of the said servant of God, had built at his own expense. And he knows that in this place he lies buried under the ground at the gospel horn of the altar which is in the said chapel. And that in this grave and in the first this witness has seen that there is no lamp, lights, votive offerings, or any other things which manifest a cult that persons have given or give to the said servant of God, but that in everything the decrees of His Holiness Urban VIII are observed with all diligence and attention, without permitting anything which even indirectly contravenes them.]
[10] In quanto alla decima nona delle dette dimande disse questo testimonio, che sà di vista, esperienza, e per publico, e notorio, corrente e certo, With how great devotion the common people follow him, che tutta la gente di questa città ha havuto ed ha gran devozione con il detto servo di Dio Frà Martino de Porres, ed ha visto ancora che nelle città, ville e luoghi di questo Regno doue è stato, quali sono molti, gli l'hanno per tenerlo per santo. E specialmente lo ha provato e stà provando in questa città, dove tutti l'acclamano e lo cercano nei loro travagli e bisogni; e che detta devozione
[As to the nineteenth of the said questions, this witness said that he knows by sight, experience, and as public and notorious, current and certain, that all the people of this city have had and have great devotion to the said servant of God Fra Martin de Porres, and he has seen also that in the cities, towns and places of this Kingdom where he has been, which are many, they have it for him, holding him for a saint. And especially he has experienced and is experiencing it in this city, where all acclaim him and seek him in their troubles and needs; and that the said devotion]
è andata e va crescendo ogni giorno più senz'essersi mai diminuita nè dimezzata, come meglio riconobbe già da cinqu' anni poco più, how greatly it rejoiced ò meno, nel giorno che per le piazze e strade più principali, à voce di banditore, si publicò il rotulo per farsi queste informazioni circa la sua beatificazione e canonizazione, che fù uno dei giorni più alegri che habbia havuto questa città [According to witness I of the process of 1678 this solemnity was celebrated on the 27th of October 1678. Summarium, p. 366.], perchè dalle dodici del vespero in cui si publicò fino alla sera del giorno seguente si sonorono solennemente in questa santa chiesa metropolitana le campane, ed in tutte le altre delli conventi de religiosi e religiose e delle parocchie, manifestando tutti l'allegria che havevano ne' loro cuori per vedere che fusse giunto un giorno si desiderato, that the apostolic process for his beatification was instituted. nel quale per autorità apostolica si trattasse della sua beatificazione e canonizazione. E per non allongare più il discorso, non riferisce altre molte cose che vidde, le quali si fecero per festa e saranno già state dette da altri molti testimonii [For example, by witnesses I, VI, XXIII of the process of 1678. Summarium, pp. 365–71, 373–74.], per esser stato publico e notorio.
[has gone and is going on growing more every day without ever having been lessened or diminished, as he recognized better a little more or less than five years ago, on the day when, through the principal squares and streets, by the voice of the crier, the roll was published for making these informations concerning his beatification and canonization, which was one of the most joyful days that this city has had, because from twelve o'clock in the afternoon, when it was published, until the evening of the following day the bells were solemnly rung in this holy metropolitan church, and in all the others of the convents of religious men and women and of the parishes, all manifesting the joy which they had in their hearts at seeing that so desired a day had come, on which by apostolic authority his beatification and canonization should be treated. And so as not to lengthen the discourse further, he does not relate many other things which he saw, which were done for the festivity and will already have been told by many other witnesses, because it was public and notorious.]
[11] f. 108 In quanto alla vigesima seconda delle dette dimande disse questo testimonio, The fame of his virtues is again set forth, che fama est clara cum laude notitia St. Thomas, Summa theolog., 2 2ae, q. 103, art. 1., e che quella del detto servo di Dio Frà Martino de Porres fù fama illustre ed eroica per la carità ed eccellenza delle sue virtù, quali esercitò in tutto il tempo della sua vita. E che detta buona fama non solo è stata corrente e ricevuta in questa città, sì per le sue penitenze, digiuni, orazioni, mortificazioni e ardente carità che con gl' huomini e animali irragionevoli haveva, mà ancora per i miracoli che si è degnato Nostro Signore di fare per sua intercessione, invocandolo, e con le reliquie, imagini e terra della sua sepoltura, che ha fatto sua divina Maestà per suo patrocinio con molti infermi e bisognosi. E che detta buona fama, come di già ha dichiarato, non solo è stata, ed è corrente, e ricevuta da tutta f. 108v la gente di questa città, dove il detto servo di Dio visse, morì ed è sepolto, ma ancora in tutte le città di questo Regno, ville, terre e luoghi, come lo ha provato in quelli dove è stato; e che in questa è andata crescendo più e più ogni giorno senz' essersi giamai diminuita; nè ha udito che si sia detta ò fatta cosa in contrario, come differenti volte ha dichiarato nelle dimande antecedenti, nelle quali, essendo necessario, si rimette See the sources, note 1..
[As to the twenty-second of the said questions, this witness said that fame is clear knowledge with praise, and that that of the said servant of God Fra Martin de Porres was an illustrious and heroic fame for the charity and excellence of his virtues, which he exercised during the whole time of his life. And that the said good fame has not only been current and received in this city, both for his penances, fasts, prayers, mortifications and the ardent charity which he had with men and irrational animals, but also for the miracles which Our Lord has deigned to work by his intercession, when he is invoked, and with the relics, images and earth from his grave, which his divine Majesty has worked through his patronage with many sick and needy persons. And that the said good fame, as he has already declared, not only has been and is current and received by all the people of this city, where the said servant of God lived, died and is buried, but also in all the cities of this Kingdom, towns, lands and places, as he has experienced in those where he has been; and that in this city it has gone on growing more and more every day without ever having been lessened; nor has he heard that anything was said or done to the contrary, as he has declared at different times in the preceding questions, to which, where necessary, he refers.]
[12] f. 111 In What follows Bernardo declared on the 19th of October. quanto al quarto delli detti articoli disse questo testimonio che sà nella forma detta nell' antecedenti, che essendo giunto il giorno della professione del detto servo di Dio Frà Martino de Porres, la fece con grand' allegria di tutti i religiosi, e con gran consolazione dell'anima sua per haver esperimentato in esso in quell' anno una rigorosa austerità seco medesimo nel continuo esercizio delle penitenze e discipline, nella continuazione e fervore dell' orazione, vigilie, digiuni ed altri esercizij di mortificazione e di virtù f. 111v eccellenti, causando maraviglia ai religiosi, posponendo tutto ciò che poteva dargli di qualche stima la qualità e stima di suo padre ["That consideration of this kind was had of him even in religion is not to be doubted, especially in that region, in which spurious sons are not held in abomination, as is notorious." Response to the new animadversions of the Rev. Fr. Promoter of the Faith on the doubt whether the virtues are established, p. 6.], especially of humility, essendo entrato nella religione non solo per farsi religioso, mà per vivere in essa nel più umile e basso officio, cioè nell' infermaria servendo l'infermi, e tutti i religiosi in generale, e tutti i serventi della casa, mostrando in tutto il detto servo di Dio l'allegria grande che nella sua anima haveva per occuparsi nel detto officio [So witnesses VI and VII of the process of 1678. Summarium, p. 33, §43 and p. 35, §§66–69. Cf. above, p. 116, note 1.]: il che fù ed è verità, publico, e notorio, e fù, ed è publica voce, e fama [This juridical formula, in which the several following articles usually end, it will suffice to have recited once.].
[As to the fourth of the said articles, this witness said that he knows, in the form stated in the preceding ones, that the day of the profession of the said servant of God Fra Martin de Porres having come, he made it to the great joy of all the religious and with great consolation of his soul, for having in that year practised a rigorous austerity with himself in the continual exercise of penances and disciplines, in the continuance and fervor of prayer, vigils, fasts and other exercises of mortification and of excellent virtues, causing wonder to the religious, setting aside all that the quality and esteem of his father could give him of any esteem, having entered religion not only to become a religious, but to live in it in the most humble and lowly office, that is, in the infirmary, serving the sick, and all the religious in general, and all the servants of the house, the said servant of God showing in everything the great joy which he had in his soul at being occupied in the said office: which was and is the truth, public and notorious, and was and is the public voice and fame.]
[13] In quanto al quinto de' detti articoli disse questo testimonio, che sà per haverlo udito dire generalmente per publico, e notorio, e con maggior specialità dai religiosi de quali ha fatto menzione nell' articolo secondo, che il detto servo di Dio Frà Martino de Porres ogni notte si faceva trè discipline assai rigorose, of mortification, fino à sparger molto sangue dal suo corpo, e che si lavava con aceto fortissimo e bagni mordaci per maggiormente mortificarsi e più patire. E che questo lo disse e dichiarò il detto servo di Dio al R. P. M. Frà Gasparo de Saldana, il quale già è morto, che era Priore nel tempo della sua morte, perchè in virtù del precetto di santa obbedienza gli comandò che dichiarasse f. 112 li suoi segreti esercizij spirituali. E gli disse come era certo che si disciplinava trè volte ogni notte ad imitazione del suo padre S. Domenico. E che ciò l'udì questo testimonio, come di già ha detto, dai religiosi sopracitati, e lo sà ancora per haverlo letto in alcune carte che vidde e riconobbe per comporre la Vita del detto servo di Dio, che stampò. E nella medesima forma sà che continuamente si occupò il detto servo di Dio in digiuni ed altre austerità, et in molti esercizij spirituali di carità negl' officij d'infermario, of charity, barbiere e cerusico del convento, fatigando in essi con gran fervore e senza mai straccarsi, con grand' allegria dell' anima sua, essendo norma ed esempio de suoi compagni, risplendendo la sua profondissima humiltà e pronta obbedienza, sì nel sudetto, come in tutte le altre virtù [Witness XXX of the process of 1660; witnesses VI, VII, XXIII of the process of 1678. Summarium, pp. 207, 209–10, 213.].
[As to the fifth of the said articles, this witness said that he knows, from having heard it said generally as public and notorious, and most especially by the religious of whom he has made mention in the second article, that the said servant of God Fra Martin de Porres every night gave himself three very rigorous disciplines, to the point of shedding much blood from his body, and that he washed himself with very strong vinegar and biting baths in order to mortify himself the more and suffer more. And that the said servant of God said and declared this to the Rev. Fr. Master Fra Gaspar de Saldaña, who is now dead, who was Prior at the time of his death, because in virtue of the precept of holy obedience he commanded him to declare his secret spiritual exercises. And he told him that it was certain that he disciplined himself three times every night in imitation of his father St. Dominic. And that this witness heard this, as he has already said, from the religious cited above, and knows it also from having read it in some papers which he saw and examined in order to compose the Life of the said servant of God, which he printed. And in the same form he knows that the said servant of God was continually occupied in fasts and other austerities, and in many spiritual exercises of charity in the offices of infirmarian, barber and surgeon of the convent, toiling in them with great fervor and without ever tiring, with great joy of his soul, being a rule and example to his companions, his most profound humility and prompt obedience shining forth both in the aforesaid and in all the other virtues.]
[14] f. 112v In quanto al nono de detti articoli disse che sà che essendo bambino frequentava con grand' attenzione e devozione le chiese ed altri luoghi pij, of piety, e che consigliava à tutti che così facessero [Witness VII of the process of 1678. Summarium, p. 17, §§25–26.].
[As to the ninth of the said articles, he said that he knows that as a child he frequented with great attention and devotion the churches and other pious places, and that he counseled everyone to do so.]
[15] f. 114 In quanto al decimo terzo de' detti articoli disse questo testimonio che sà nella forma detta nell' immediati, che il detto servo di Dio Frà Martino de Porres mostrò il fino e securo della sua fede, nella singolar pietà che sempre hebbe verso Iddio. towards the Most Holy Eucharist, E lo manifestò l'uso continuo della sua orazione, e nella venerazione dell' augustissimo sagramento dell' altare, nella quale andava in estasi visitando tutti li giorni gl' altari, nei quali questo divino Signor sagramentato è collocato, ed in assistere alle processioni che tutte le terze domeniche del mese f. 114v si fanno in venerazione e culto di sì alta Maestà, assistendo con gran puntualità, devozione ed esempio che veramente edificava; e si conosceva che tutti i suoi sentimenti e potenze erano impiegati nell' altezza d'un tanto mistero. E così parimente manifestava l'ardente della sua fede, in ricevere nel suo petto assai spesso questo gran Signore de cieli e della terra; ed era con tanti affetti di carità, che il fuoco d'amor di Dio, che nella sua anima racchiudeva, gl'esciva dal volto in raggi resplendenti [Witnesses I, XXII of the process of 1678. Summarium, p. 61, §§22–27 and p. 77, §§85–87.].
[As to the thirteenth of the said articles, this witness said that he knows, in the form stated in the immediately preceding ones, that the said servant of God Fra Martin de Porres showed the fineness and security of his faith in the singular piety which he always had towards God. And the continual practice of his prayer manifested it, and in the veneration of the most august sacrament of the altar, in which he went into ecstasy, visiting every day the altars on which this divine sacramental Lord is placed, and in attending the processions which every third Sunday of the month are made in veneration and worship of so high a Majesty, attending with great punctuality, devotion and an example that truly edified; and it was recognized that all his senses and powers were employed in the height of so great a mystery. And likewise he manifested the ardor of his faith in receiving very often into his breast this great Lord of heaven and earth; and it was with such affections of charity that the fire of the love of God which he enclosed in his soul came forth from his face in resplendent rays.]
[16] In quanto al decimo quarto de' detti articoli disse questo testimonio che sà nella forma detta nell' immediati, che il detto servo di Dio Frà Martino de Porres amava, ed amò sempre con cordiale affetto e venerazione la sempre Vergine Maria Nostra Signore Madre di Dio, the Blessed Virgin Mary nella di cui cappella del Rosario del suo convento stava, quei tempi che poteva di giorno e di notte, in orazione; e faceva il medesimo assistendo all' officio minore della santissima Vergine che si recita avanti un imagine di Nostra Signora che stà nel dormitorio alto, il quale è vicino all' atrio del choro del convento. E che ancora manifestava il detto servo di Dio la cordial devozione, che verso questa divina Regina haveva, nel portare, oltre il rosario che f. 115 portava pendente al collo secondo il costume di S. Giovanni Battista, un altro pendente dalla cintola, quale portava nelle mani con gran devozione e tenerezza recitando, cioè facendo orazione con esso. E solo lo lasciava, quando era necessario che si occupasse in alcuna cosa toccante agl' officij che haveva [Witnesses I, XXIII of the process of 1678. Summarium, p. 188, §§11, 12; p. 190, §§28–30.].
[As to the fourteenth of the said articles, this witness said that he knows, in the form stated in the immediately preceding ones, that the said servant of God Fra Martin de Porres loved, and always loved with cordial affection and veneration, the ever Virgin Mary Our Lady, Mother of God, in whose chapel of the Rosary in his convent he remained in prayer, at those times that he could, by day and by night; and he did the same in attending the little office of the most holy Virgin which is recited before an image of Our Lady which is in the upper dormitory, which is near the atrium of the choir of the convent. And that the said servant of God further manifested the cordial devotion which he had towards this divine Queen in wearing, besides the rosary which he wore hanging from his neck according to the custom of St. John the Baptist, another hanging from his belt, which he carried in his hands with great devotion and tenderness, reciting, that is, praying with it. And he only left it when it was necessary for him to be occupied in some matter touching the offices which he had.]
[17] In quanto al decimo quinto de' detti articoli
As to the fifteenth of the said articlesdisse questo testimonio, che sà secondo e nella forma riferita nell' immediati che il detto servo di Dio Frà Martino de Porres, doppo d'havere assistito agl' esercizij ordinarij dell' infermaria dando li medicamenti all' infermi, and the sacrifice of the Mass. se n'andava in chiesa; e non solo udiva messa, mà anche ne serviva quante poteva con grand' attenzione, devozione e riverenza, finchè giungeva l'hora precisa di ritornarsene all' infermaria ad attendere à tutto il necessario per il sollievo e consolazione dell' infermi [Witness XXIII of the process of 1678. Ibid., p. 68, §§99, 100.].
[this witness said that he knows, according to and in the form related in the immediately preceding ones, that the said servant of God Fra Martin de Porres, after having attended to the ordinary exercises of the infirmary, giving the medicines to the sick, would go to the church; and he not only heard Mass, but also served as many as he could with great attention, devotion and reverence, until the precise hour came for returning to the infirmary to attend to everything necessary for the relief and consolation of the sick.]
[18] f. 117 In quanto al vigesimo secondo de' detti articoli disse questo testimonio, che sà secondo e come di già ha dichiarato nell' antecedenti, che il detto servo di Dio Frà Martino de Porres patì constantissimamente per Dio e per il suo honore e gloria, He frequently fought with the demons. conformandosi e rassegnandosi in tutto e per tutto alla sua santissima volontà, molti travagli, e tribulazioni, infermità e cattivi trattamenti de demonij con allegria d'animo e pronta volontà. E specialmente si ricorda che li religiosi citati nell' articolo secondo gli dissero, e ancora lo sà per haverlo letto in alcune carte quali riconobbe per dover scrivere la Vita del detto servo di Dio, che li demonij per divertirlo dall' orazione et da suoi santi esercizij gli facevano paura, e lo battevano, e lo intimorivano con figure orribili. E che in un' occasione, stando ritirato in camera sua nel più cupo della notte, lo udì un rifugiato che in essa haveva per precetto del superiore, che parlava con un altro con gran risentimento, riprendendolo perchè era entrato in camera sua, e che cosa voleva in essa cercare. E che gli diceva: "Vattene di qui, maledetto e miserabile". f. 117v Alle quali voci exì il detto rifugiato; e vidde che del detto servo di Dio facevano pilotta dall' una all' altra parte, e gli davano fierissimi colpi, senza vedere chi fosse quello che così malamente il trattava. E di li à poco tempo vidde che ardeva la cella in vive fiamme, e che il fuoco si era attaccato alla robba dell' infermi. Il che vedendo il detto servo di Dio, chiamò il detto suo ospite, acciò che l'aiutasse à smorzare il fuoco. Ed escendo dal suo stanzolino il detto ospite, il quale si chiamava il Sargente Francesco della Torre [Francisco de la Torre, a military scout, 48 years old, appeared during the process of 1660 as the 42nd witness. What is narrated in this whole chapter often agrees word for word with his testimony. Summarium, pp. 230–31.], ogn' uno dalla parte sua lo smorzorono. E subito gli comandò che si andasse à rimettere in letto, perchè non gli facesse danno per essere escito spogliato. Accostandosi avanti la porta della cella per vedere se era aperta e se era di li escito l'incendiario, e riconoscendo che era serrata à chiave, più si maravigliò e s'impaurì. Essendosi ritirato senz' haver fatto dimanda alcuna al detto servo di Dio, si pose in letto con grand' ammirazione; e nel rimanente della notte non potè dormire, nè riposare un punto. E circa le trè della mattina udì che il detto servo di Dio si alzò per andare à sonare l'alba, costume che in tutta la sua vita continuò, lasciando il lume in camera. E con il pensiere f. 118 con il quale era rimasto, l'ospite si alzò à vedere il danno che haveva occasionato il fuoco nella robba dell' infermi. E non ritrovò un minimo segno d'haver patito incendio alcuno, nè nella cella vi era fumo; del che maggiormente si ammirò e si stupì, tenendo per certo che il demonio l'haveva cagionato per divertire ed intimorire il detto servo di Dio. E nella medesima forma sà altri casi e battaglie che con il demonio hebbe, de quali al presente non si ricorda; che, segli sovverranno, li dirà in altri luoghi. Ed in tutte riuscì vittorioso il detto servo di Dio, e svergognato il demonio.
[As to the twenty-second of the said articles, this witness said that he knows, according to and as he has already declared in the preceding ones, that the said servant of God Fra Martin de Porres suffered most constantly for God and for his honor and glory, conforming and resigning himself in all and through all to his most holy will, many troubles and tribulations, infirmities and ill-treatment by demons, with cheerfulness of mind and ready will. And he remembers especially that the religious cited in the second article told him, and he knows it also from having read it in some papers which he examined in order to write the Life of the said servant of God, that the demons, to distract him from prayer and from his holy exercises, frightened him, and beat him, and terrified him with horrible figures. And that on one occasion, when he was withdrawn in his room in the darkest part of the night, a refugee whom he had in it by order of the superior heard him speaking with another with great indignation, rebuking him because he had entered his room and asking what he wanted to seek in it. And that he said to him: "Get out of here, accursed and miserable one." At these words the said refugee came out; and he saw that they were tossing the said servant of God like a ball from one side to the other, and giving him most savage blows, without seeing who it was that was treating him so badly. And a little later he saw that the cell was burning in lively flames, and that the fire had caught the belongings of the sick. Seeing this, the said servant of God called the said guest of his, so that he might help him to put out the fire. And the said guest, who was called Sergeant Francisco de la Torre, coming out of his little room, each on his own side, they put it out. And at once he ordered him to go back to bed, so that it should not harm him for having come out undressed. Going up to the door of the cell to see whether it was open and whether the fire-raiser had gone out from there, and finding that it was locked with a key, he wondered and was frightened the more. Having withdrawn without having asked any question of the said servant of God, he went to bed with great astonishment; and for the rest of the night he could not sleep or rest at all. And about three in the morning he heard the said servant of God get up to go and ring the dawn bell, a custom which he continued all his life, leaving the light in the room. And with the thought with which he had been left, the guest got up to see the damage which the fire had caused to the belongings of the sick. And he did not find the least sign of their having suffered any burning, nor was there smoke in the cell; at which he wondered and was astonished the more, holding it for certain that the demon had caused it to distract and terrify the said servant of God. And in the same form he knows other cases and battles which he had with the demon, which he does not at present remember; which, if they come back to him, he will tell in other places. And in all of them the said servant of God came out victorious and the demon put to shame.]
[19] f. 118v In quanto al vigesimo quarto de' detti articoli disse questo testimonio, che sà nella forma detta nell' immediati, che il detto servo di Dio Frà Martino de Porres fin dalla sua tenera età abbracciò tutto ciò che era di gradimento à Dio, The purity of his conscience, abborrendo ciò che si opponeva al suo honore e gloria, aborrendo i peccati e i compagni cattivi; e che procedè con tant' attenzione e vigilanza in amare e servire à Dio, che havendo fatto i suoi confessori speciale esame della sua coscienza, non gli trovorono materia di peccato mortale. E questo è di tal forma certo e costante frà ogni genere di persone, che mai vi è stato un benchè minimo dubio contrario [Witness VII of the process of 1660; witnesses I, VII of the process of 1678. Ibid., p. 53, §§1–6; p. 54, §§12–15.].
[As to the twenty-fourth of the said articles, this witness said that he knows, in the form stated in the immediately preceding ones, that the said servant of God Fra Martin de Porres from his tender age embraced everything that was pleasing to God, abhorring what was opposed to his honor and glory, abhorring sins and bad companions; and that he proceeded with such attention and vigilance in loving and serving God that, his confessors having made a special examination of his conscience, they found in him no matter of mortal sin. And this is so certain and constant among every kind of person that there has never been even the least contrary doubt.]
[20] f. 121 In quanto al vigesimo nono de' detti articoli disse questo testimonio, che sà nella forma detta nel secondo e quinto, che il detto servo di Dio Frà Martino de Porres fù di coscienza sì religiosa e composta che nelle cose dubbiose eleggeva sempre il camino più sicuro, e che quantunque non haveva confessore determinato, which he examined with the most learned religious. perchè con tutti generalmente si confessava, però si consultava con li religiosi più dotti e di più timorata coscienza nelle sue difficoltà, con desiderio grande di sapere il vero in tutto e che Iddio fosse più bene e puntualmente servito. E come quello che si esercitava per ordinario nelle virtù e si comunicava con suoi santi affetti, con grand' ardore di carità, si trasportava in ratti ed estasi celesti, manifestando il suo volto il grand' amore divino che racchiuso haveva nel suo cuore, perchè risplendeva e riluceva tutto [Witnesses VI and VII of the process of 1678. Ibid., p. 171, §§32–37; p. 173, §§47–49.].
[As to the twenty-ninth of the said articles, this witness said that he knows, in the form stated in the second and fifth, that the said servant of God Fra Martin de Porres was of so religious and well-ordered a conscience that in doubtful matters he always chose the safer way, and that although he had no fixed confessor, because he confessed generally to all, he nevertheless consulted the most learned religious and those of most God-fearing conscience in his difficulties, with a great desire to know the truth in everything and that God might be better and more punctually served. And as one who ordinarily exercised himself in the virtues and communicated with his holy affections, with great ardor of charity, he was transported into heavenly raptures and ecstasies, his countenance manifesting the great divine love which he had enclosed in his heart, for it wholly shone and glowed.]
[21] In quanto al trigesimo de' detti articoli disse questo testimonio che sà nella forma riferita nel secondo e quinto, che il detto servo di Dio Frà Martino de Porres sempre stava alla presenza di Dio, Ecstasies and raptures of mind, perchè ò si consegnava del tutto all' orazione e meditazione delle cose celesti e misterij divini, ne quali s'ingolfava come un galeone in alto mare, così lui nell' immenso pelago de' divini f. 121v attributi con la contemplazione, di tal forma che anche alienato da se stesso si perdeva di vista à quei medesimi che lo cercavano, accadendo non poche volte l'entrare nella sala del Capitolo dove l'havevano visto entrare à fare orazione et à render grazie à Dio per i beneficij e mercedi che gli faceva; e non trovandolo doppo haverlo cercato con grand' attenzione, si ponevano poco lungi dalla porta della detta sala, e passato qualche tempo, without anything being lacking in the care of the sick. lo vedevano escir, quei medesimi che l'havevano visto entrare e l'havevano cercato in essa, e negl' esercizij manuali ed officij di Marta, servendo ai religiosi infermi e poveri di dentro e di fuori del suo convento. E da tutto prendeva motivo di meditare Iddio e di non allontanarsi dalla sua divina presenza, ò nella frequenza dei santi sagramenti della confessione e comunione con affetti sì eccellenti et ammirabili, che sì i suoi confessori come gl' altri havevano tutti che celebrare ed ammirare in lui, ò nella devozione e reverenza con la quale udiva messa ed assisteva all' officio minore della Madonna, He directed everything to God, ò negl' altri officij ed esercizij nei quali sempre stava occupato, tessendo tutti suoi pensieri in Dio, lodandolo con le sue opere e parole. Nel che tutto ammiravano f. 122 i religiosi, vedendo le misericordie che la divina Maestà faceva con quella creatura, la quale tenevano per certo esser molto da lui gradita per il vero amore con il quale lo serviva, il quale ben si conosceva per vederlo impiegato nell' esercizio di tante virtù sì eroicamente e perfettamente esercitate e pratticate con tanta pace e allegria, e con un animo sì costante e generoso [Witnesses V, VI, XXIII of the process of 1678. Summarium, p. 82, §101; p. 83, §§112–115; pp. 87–88, §§147–152.].
[As to the thirtieth of the said articles, this witness said that he knows, in the form related in the second and fifth, that the said servant of God Fra Martin de Porres was always in the presence of God, because either he gave himself wholly to prayer and meditation on heavenly things and divine mysteries, in which he plunged like a galleon on the high sea, so he in the immense ocean of the divine attributes by contemplation, in such a way that, carried out of himself, he was lost to the sight even of those very persons who were looking for him, it happening not a few times that they entered the chapter hall where they had seen him go in to pray and to give thanks to God for the benefits and favors which he did him; and not finding him after having searched for him with great attention, they placed themselves not far from the door of the said hall, and after some time had passed, those same persons who had seen him go in and had searched for him in it saw him come out; or in the manual exercises and offices of Martha, serving the sick religious and the poor inside and outside his convent. And from everything he took occasion to meditate on God and not to withdraw from his divine presence, whether in the frequenting of the holy sacraments of confession and communion with such excellent and admirable affections that both his confessors and the others all had something to celebrate and admire in him, or in the devotion and reverence with which he heard Mass and attended the little office of Our Lady, or in the other offices and exercises in which he was always occupied, weaving all his thoughts in God, praising him with his works and words. In all of which the religious wondered, seeing the mercies which the divine Majesty worked with that creature, which they held for certain to be very pleasing to him for the true love with which he served him, which was well recognized from seeing him employed in the exercise of so many virtues so heroically and perfectly exercised and practised with such peace and cheerfulness, and with so constant and generous a spirit.]
[22] In quanto al trigesimo secondo de' detti articoli disse questo testimonio che sà nella forma riferita nel secondo e quinto, che il detto servo di Dio Frà Martino de Porres, so that he was intimately united with him. quando stava in orazione, andava in estasi e si elevava unendosi con Dio. E il medesimo gli succedeva, quando si comunicava e meditava li sagri e divini misterij, e quando serviva li poveri infermi, e quando parlava delle cose celesti, e lo disprezzavano e ingiuriavano, come di già ha accennato f. 122v nell' antecedente e dirà in altri con maggior distinzione [Witness VII of the process of 1678. Ibid., p. 84, §§122–25.].
[As to the thirty-second of the said articles, this witness said that he knows, in the form related in the second and fifth, that the said servant of God Fra Martin de Porres, when he was in prayer, went into ecstasy and was raised up, uniting himself with God. And the same happened to him when he received communion and meditated on the sacred and divine mysteries, and when he served the poor sick, and when he spoke of heavenly things, and when they despised and insulted him, as he has already indicated in the preceding one and will tell in others with greater distinctness.]
[23] Zeal for the salvation of his neighbor In quanto al trigesimo terzo de' detti articoli disse questo testimonio che sà nella forma riferita nell' immediati, che il detto servo di Dio
[As to the thirty-third of the said articles, this witness said that he knows, in the form related in the immediately preceding ones, that the said servant of God]
Frà Martino de Porres per il medesimo Iddio et in Dio e per il suo honore hebbe tanta e sì ardente carità verso i suoi prossimi, che con quanti mezzi potè procurò soccorrerli e servirli con tutto il suo cuore, desiderando con tutte le sue forze che si salvassero, cercando che non offendessero sua divina Maestà acciò si potessero salvare, assistendogli con gran vigilanza sì di opere come di parole [Witness II of the process of 1678. Ibid., p. 93, §14.]. it is proved by an example. Ed in comprova di ciò, si ricorda d'haver udito dire generalmente e specialmente dai religiosi sopracitati e per haverlo letto in alcune carte di note fatte da persone di credito, che stando un huomo secolare in un occasione per andare à vedere una donna con la quale haveva illeciti contratti, e stando con questo pensiero, andò prima à vedere il detto servo di Dio Frà Martino; il quale conoscendo l'interiore del suo cuore, lo trattenne con parole cortesi e di edificazione. E doppo passato qualche tempo, gli disse: "Vada adesso in buon hora, fratello". Ed essendo f. 123 escito dal convento pochi passi, l'incontrò un suo amico il quale gli disse come il tetto della stanza dove dormiva la donna, con la quale haveva havuto cattiva prattica, era caduto, e l'haveva colta sotto, e l'haveva malamente trattata. E andando alla casa della detta donna, esaminò e conobbe quanto l'amico gli haveva detto, tenendo per certo che il detto servo di Dio gli haveva penetrato il cuore e l'haveva allontanato dall' offender sua divina Maestà e dal male che gli sarebbe succeduto, se fosse andato à visitarla [Witness VII of the process of 1678. Ibid., p. 281, §13.]. E di più dice che gli hanno riferito ed ha letto altri molti e differenti casi, circa quanto invigilò il detto servo di Dio che la divina Maestà non fosse offesa, e quanto procurò che tutti si salvassero, assistendogli per quanto poteva hora con consegli ed esortazioni, ed hora con sollievi e soccorsi delle necessità che alcuni pativano, acciòche per questa causa non lasciassero di amare di vero cuore Iddio.
[Fra Martin de Porres, for the same God and in God and for his honor, had such great and ardent charity towards his neighbors that by every means he could he sought to succor and serve them with all his heart, desiring with all his strength that they should be saved, seeing to it that they did not offend his divine Majesty, so that they might be saved, assisting them with great vigilance both in deeds and in words. And in proof of this, he remembers having heard it said generally, and especially by the religious cited above, and from having read it in some papers of notes made by persons of credit, that a secular man being on one occasion about to go and see a woman with whom he had illicit dealings, and being of this mind, first went to see the said servant of God Fra Martin; who, knowing the inside of his heart, detained him with courteous and edifying words. And after some time had passed, he said to him: "Go now, in good time, brother." And when he had gone out a few steps from the convent, a friend of his met him, who told him how the roof of the room where the woman with whom he had had evil dealings slept had fallen, and had caught her beneath it, and had badly injured her. And going to the house of the said woman, he examined and found to be so what his friend had told him, holding for certain that the said servant of God had penetrated his heart and had kept him away from offending his divine Majesty and from the harm that would have befallen him if he had gone to visit her. And moreover he says that many other and different cases have been related to him and he has read them, about how watchful the said servant of God was that the divine Majesty should not be offended, and how he sought that all should be saved, assisting them as far as he could, now with counsels and exhortations, and now with reliefs and succors for the necessities which some suffered, so that for this cause they should not cease to love God with a true heart.]
[24] In quanto al trigesimo quarto de' detti articoli disse questo testimonio che sà per haverlo udito dire generalmente, ed esser publico e costante, e nella forma che ha dichiarato nel secondo e quinto, che il detto servo di Dio Frà Martino de Porres essendo di poca età prese l'habito f. 123v di religioso donato del detto ordine de' Predicatori nel convento di Nostra Signora del Rosario di questa città, dove professò li voti di povertà, obbedienza e castità, e che procurò che tutti sapessero i misterij della nostra santa fede. Ed à questo fine haveva un hora determinata, He taught the precepts of the Christian faith doppo d'havere assistito nel refettorio, nel tempo che la religione dà di poter parlare, la quale applicava à questo santo esercizio, attraendosi gl'occhi di tutti con l'esempio, modestia e devozione, con la quale gl'insegnava. E si rimette à ciò, che di già innanzi ha dichiarato.
[As to the thirty-fourth of the said articles, this witness said that he knows, from having heard it said generally, and as being public and constant, and in the form which he has declared in the second and fifth, that the said servant of God Fra Martin de Porres, being of young age, took the habit of a donatus religious of the said order of Preachers in the convent of Our Lady of the Rosary of this city, where he professed the vows of poverty, obedience and chastity, and that he sought that all should know the mysteries of our holy faith. And for this purpose he had a fixed hour, after having attended in the refectory, at the time which the religious life gives for being able to speak, which he applied to this holy exercise, drawing the eyes of all by the example, modesty and devotion with which he taught them. And he refers to what he has already declared before.]
[25] In quanto al trigesimo quinto de' detti articoli disse questo testimonio che nel principale di esso si rimette à ciò, che di già ha detto negl' antecedenti. E circa il particolare dice che ciò che sà, per haverlo udito dire generalmente da ogni genere di persone per publico e notorio e verità certa, and diligent in fulfilling the offices of charity, e dai religiosi già riferiti, che il detto servo di Dio Frà Martino de Porres con gran puntualità, prontezza, humiltà e carità servì ai religiosi e all'infermaria, alla quale totalmente era dedicato per barbiere, cerusico e infermario, senza lasciare, ò omettere alcuna diligenza ò operazione, consegnato à tutte et ad ogn' una da se, divenendo f. 124 molti ministri assieme nelle sue operazioni, perche si applicava in tal forma senza mancare ad esse, nè nel tempo per eseguirle, che pare che miracolosamente poteva essere, essendo fuori dell' ordine comune delle cose che un huomo di sì delicata complessione e di tante estenuate forze potesse servire tanto e con tanto valore, he bestowed the alms which he received from others for distribution. costanza e corraggio [Witness II of the process of 1660 and several others. Ibid., p. 122, §§14–16.]. E sà ancora nella medesima forma, che sapendo quanto bene si distribuivano le limosine dal detto servo di Dio, stimavano bene molti huomini ricchi e potenti, e persone di autorità e posto nella republica di far le limosine, che facevano, per mano del detto servo di Dio. Frà li quali furono, per quello che ricordar si può, l'Eccellmo Sigr D. Pietro Fernandez de Bobadilla, Conte de Chincon, vicerè di questi Regni, il quale ogni mese gli mandava cento pezze et il medesimo faceva il Governatore Giovanni de Figueroa, e altri. Con che haveva da poter soccorrere i bisogni de poveri sì publici, come segreti [Witnesses XXIII and XXIV of the process of 1678. Ibid., p. 114, §§105–07; p. 115, §§115–16.].
[As to the thirty-fifth of the said articles, this witness said that in its main point he refers to what he has already said in the preceding ones. And as to the particular, he says that what he knows, from having heard it said generally by every kind of person as public and notorious and certain truth, and by the religious already mentioned, is that the said servant of God Fra Martin de Porres with great punctuality, promptness, humility and charity served the religious and the infirmary, to which he was wholly dedicated as barber, surgeon and infirmarian, without leaving or omitting any diligence or operation, given over to all of them and to each one by himself, becoming many ministers together in his operations, because he applied himself in such a way, without failing in them or in the time for carrying them out, that it seems it could only be miraculously, it being outside the common order of things that a man of so delicate a constitution and such exhausted strength could serve so much and with such valor, constancy and courage. And he knows also in the same form that, knowing how well the alms were distributed by the said servant of God, many rich and powerful men, and persons of authority and position in the commonwealth, thought it good to give the alms which they gave by the hand of the said servant of God. Among whom were, as far as can be remembered, His Excellency Don Pedro Fernández de Bobadilla, Count of Chinchón, viceroy of these Kingdoms, who every month sent him a hundred pieces, and the Governor Juan de Figueroa did the same, and others. With which he was able to succor the needs of the poor, both public and secret.]
[26] In quanto al trigesimo settimo de' detti articoli disse questo testimonio che sà per publico, e notorio, costante e certa verità, e come di già ha dichiarato nel secondo e quinto, che il detto servo di Dio Frà Martino de Porres amava et amò i poveri con tanto amore e carità, come se fossero suoi fratelli; The poor, whom he so loved, he fed with his own food, e che nei refettorij sì dell' infermaria come della comunità ragunava tutto ciò che avanzava per dargliene. Al che ancora applicava la sua medesima pietanza, togliendosi il proprio corporale alimento per essi, vivendo in un continuo digiuno, perchè il suo alimento era sì poco e sì scarso, che la sua vita pareva e parve celeste e sovranaturalmente alimentata, non potendo essere in altra forma una sì inesplicabile mortificazione, astinenza, vigilie, digiuni e discipline fino à spargere il sangue con grande abondanza con l'assistenza ne f. 125 suoi esercizij corporali e spirituali, senza mai straccarsi, allegro e contento. E che cercava per soccorrer l'infermi limosine in genere, et in specie per vestire li nudi che à lui ricorrevano, he clothed the naked come à centro, e come in chi trovavano il loro remedio, la loro consolazione e il loro sollievo in tutti i loro bisogni di ogni genere, and relieved them in all their straits. modo e maniera, che fussero [Witness VI of the process of 1678 and others passim. Summarium, p. 107, §§50–51.].
[As to the thirty-seventh of the said articles, this witness said that he knows, as public and notorious, constant and certain truth, and as he has already declared in the second and fifth, that the said servant of God Fra Martin de Porres loved, and always loved, the poor with as much love and charity as if they were his brothers; and that in the refectories, both of the infirmary and of the community, he gathered all that was left over in order to give it to them. To which he also applied his own portion, taking away his own bodily nourishment for them, living in a continual fast, because his food was so little and so scanty that his life seemed, and seemed indeed, heavenly and supernaturally nourished, since otherwise such an inexplicable mortification, abstinence, vigils, fasts and disciplines, to the point of shedding blood in great abundance, together with his attendance at his bodily and spiritual exercises, without ever tiring, cheerful and content, could not be. And that he sought alms for succoring the sick in general, and in particular for clothing the naked who had recourse to him as to a center, and as to one in whom they found their remedy, their consolation and their relief in all their needs of every kind, mode and manner that they might be.]
[27] In quanto al trigesimo ottavo de' detti articoli disse questo testimonio che sà nella forma detta nell' antecedente che il detto servo di Dio Frà Martino de Porres fù stimato, amato e acclamato generalmente da tutti, per padre de poveri e bisognosi, He exhorted the sick piously; e consolazione d'afflitti. E che in quanto ad assistere agl' infermi era vigilantissimo, perchè il primo che procurava era la salute spirituale, e che ricevessero li santi sagramenti, e che si conformassero molto con la volontà di Dio, e ricevessero l'infermità, come mandate dalla sua santa mano per purgare in parte le pene de nostri peccati, e che perciò si dovevano ricevere con buon animo e con cuore allegro, and, if they lay gravely ill, he sat by them solicitously. e con pace e contento interior dell' anima, rassegnati nella sua divina volontà. E che essendo grave e mortale l'infermità, era più vigilante e assistente, come materia f. 125v più grave e necessaria. Dal che si originò una sentenza e detto volgare frà i religiosi, i quali, vedendo che il detto servo di Dio assisteva molto ad un infermo, dicevano, che era certa e senza remedio la sua morte. E finalmente sà che in tutti i modi e maniere assisteva ai bisognosi, perchè il detto servo di Dio non haveva maggiore allegria e contento che servire à Dio, e per Dio ai poveri e alli religiosi quali chiamava suoi fratelli per questa ragione, quantunque in ragion del suo stato si stimava per la sua grand' umiltà per schiavo di essi in particolare e in comune. E sà ancora che assisteva e soccorreva l'infermi con tutti i medicamenti necessarij per la loro cura, facendoli da se stesso, come anche medicandoli, e che assisteva con gran vigilanza agl' agonizanti [Witnesses I, VII, VIII of the process of 1678. Ibid., p. 129, §§51–58; p. 133, §§79–81; p. 135, §§92–95.].
[As to the thirty-eighth of the said articles, this witness said that he knows, in the form stated in the preceding one, that the said servant of God Fra Martin de Porres was esteemed, loved and acclaimed generally by all as father of the poor and needy and consolation of the afflicted. And that as to attending the sick he was most vigilant, because the first thing he sought was their spiritual health, and that they should receive the holy sacraments, and that they should conform themselves closely to the will of God, and receive their infirmities as sent by his holy hand to purge in part the penalties of our sins, and that therefore they ought to be received with good spirit and a cheerful heart, and with peace and inner contentment of soul, resigned in his divine will. And that when the infirmity was grave and mortal, he was more vigilant and attentive, as being a graver and more necessary matter. From which there arose a saying and common proverb among the religious, who, seeing that the said servant of God was attending much to a sick man, used to say that his death was certain and without remedy. And finally he knows that in all ways and manners he assisted the needy, because the said servant of God had no greater joy and contentment than to serve God, and for God the poor and the religious, whom for this reason he called his brothers, although by reason of his state he regarded himself, through his great humility, as their slave, in particular and in common. And he knows also that he assisted and succored the sick with all the medicines necessary for their cure, making them himself, as well as treating them, and that he assisted the dying with great vigilance.]
[28] In quanto al trigesimo nono de' detti articoli disse questo testimonio che si rimette à ciò che di già ha detto nel trigesimo quinto e antecedenti. E circa gli aiuti che dava il detto servo di Dio ai sacerdoti sà nella forma detta nel secondo e quinto, His mercy towards poor priests, che molti sacerdoti secolari, che erano giunti à somma povertà, li soccorse con magnificenza. Il che essi f. 126 medesimi il publicavano, disponendolo così la divina Maestà, acciò che si conoscesse l'incendio della carità del detto suo servo [Witnesses VII, XXIII of the process of 1678. Ibid., p. 109, §§65–68; p. 115, §113.]. Ed è costante che sopra le risplendenti ali dell'
[As to the thirty-ninth of the said articles, this witness said that he refers to what he has already said in the thirty-fifth and preceding ones. And as to the help which the said servant of God gave to priests, he knows, in the form stated in the second and fifth, that many secular priests who had come to extreme poverty he succored with magnificence. Which they themselves made public, the divine Majesty so disposing it, so that the burning of the charity of his said servant might be known. And it is constant that upon the resplendent wings of]
incendio del suo amore, e sopra le fiamme del suo ardente cuore scorse il detto servo di Dio non solo à sovvenire i poveri e bisognosi che dentro li chiostri del suo convento lo cercavano, the needy very far distant, mà anche à sovvenir quelli di fuora, e in paesi distantissimi, come sono Algieri, ove i miserabili schiavi trovorono i soccorsi nelle loro infermità, come parimente li nuovamente convertiti dal gentilismo, e li barbari Indij del Giappone, nel Regno del Messico [Witnesses VI, VII of the process of 1678. Ibid., p. 107, §54; p. 110, §71.]. E che nelle sue orazioni, digiuni, and the souls of Purgatory. mortificazioni e penitenze havevano una gran parte le anime del purgatorio, le di cui pene haverebbe volsuto patire, perchè qualsivoglia di esse ascender potesse subito à vedere Iddio e godere della patria celeste, rassegnandosi sopra tutto che si facesse la sua santissima volontà.
[the burning of his love, and upon the flames of his ardent heart, the said servant of God ran not only to aid the poor and needy who sought him within the cloisters of his convent, but also to aid those outside, and in very distant countries, such as Algiers, where the wretched slaves found succor in their infirmities, as likewise those newly converted from heathenism, and the barbarous Indians of Japan, in the Kingdom of Mexico. And that in his prayers, fasts, mortifications and penances the souls of purgatory had a great part, whose pains he would have wished to suffer, so that any one of them might ascend at once to see God and enjoy the heavenly fatherland, resigning himself above all that his most holy will be done.]
[29] In quanto al quadragesimo de' detti articoli disse questo testimonio che sà secondo e nella forma riferita nel secondo e quinto, e per publico e notorio, He did good kindly even to brute animals; che il detto servo di Dio Frà Martino de Porres si dileguava in pietà e compassione per i bisogni delle creature, che fino f. 126v le irrazionali hebbero gran parte. E la provorono li cani e li gatti, quali feriti medicava con la medesima attenzione, come se fussero razionali. Ed è voce costante, sicura e certa, che dura e persiste fino ad hoggi fra i religiosi del suo ordine e persone di fuori, che à un cane, the example of a dog and a turkey, which he took pains to heal. quale haveva fatto uccidere un religioso laico procuratore della cucina de religiosi perchè infettava con il suo puzzo e infermità di schabia che haveva, e si poteva temere di contagio per il molto pestilente suo male, e strascinandolo morto per gettarlo in una chiavica, con pretesto di medicarlo, dissimulando quello che fù vera resurrezzione con il velo di medicamento, lo medicò come vivo, e lo resuscitò essendo veramente morto. E nella medesima forma sà che ad un gallinaccio, che venne nell' orto del convento ferito con una gamba rotta, gli pose le sue stecche; e lo medicò, comandandogli che tornasse ogni giorno per esser medicato, essendo non men prodigiosa la sua pietà, che la autorità in comandare alle fiere e animali indomiti, mentre fino i cani, gatti e topi di contraria natura si rappacificavano e si concordavano alla voce e comando del detto servo di Dio. Di più dice che si ricorda f. 127 ora essergli stato detto ancora, che il detto servo di Dio riprendè con parole assai humili e modeste il detto religioso procuratore per haver fatto ammazzare il detto cane, dicendogli che era stata poca carità quella che seco haveva havuto, havendolo servito tanti anni; e che al cane commandò che non tornasse più alla cucina, perchè lui haverebbe atteso à dargli da mangiare. Conforme fece finche mori, eseguendo il comando del detto servo di Dio [Witness XII of the process of 1660; witnesses V, VI, VII of the process of 1678. Ibid., p. 157, §7; p. 159, §§15 and 17; p. 160, §§19 and 20; p. 161, §22.].
[As to the fortieth of the said articles, this witness said that he knows, according to and in the form related in the second and fifth, and as public and notorious, that the said servant of God Fra Martin de Porres melted with pity and compassion for the needs of creatures, so that even the irrational ones had a great part in it. And dogs and cats experienced it, which, when wounded, he treated with the same attention as if they were rational. And it is a constant, sure and certain report, which lasts and persists to this day among the religious of his order and persons outside, that a dog which a lay religious, procurator of the religious' kitchen, had had killed because it infected the place with its stench and the disease of mange that it had, and contagion could be feared from its very pestilent illness, and which was being dragged dead to be thrown into a sewer, he, on the pretext of treating it, disguising with the veil of medicine what was a true resurrection, treated as though alive and raised it up, being truly dead. And in the same form he knows that to a turkey, which came into the garden of the convent wounded with a broken leg, he put on its splints; and he treated it, commanding it to return every day to be treated, his pity being no less prodigious than his authority in commanding wild beasts and untamed animals, while even dogs, cats and mice, of contrary nature, were reconciled and agreed together at the voice and command of the said servant of God. Moreover he says that he remembers now that he was also told that the said servant of God rebuked the said religious procurator with very humble and modest words for having had the said dog killed, telling him that it had been little charity that he had shown it, after it had served him so many years; and that he commanded the dog not to return any more to the kitchen, because he himself would see to giving it food. Which it did until it died, carrying out the command of the said servant of God.]
[30] In quanto al quadragesimo primo de' detti articoli disse questo testimonio che sà per haverlo udito dire da i religiosi anziani del suo ordine, e specialmente dai riferiti nel quinto e dal P. M. Frà Christofaro de Toro, il quale hoggi vive, e per publico e notorio, che il detto servo di Dio Frà Martino de Porres hebbe le doti dell' agilità e sottigliezza de beati in questa vita per beneficio degl' infermi bisognosi, His preternatural endowments benefited perchè come di già ha detto questo testimonio nell' articolo trigesimo nono, slaves of distant regions che provorono la sua carità nel Regno del Messico li nuovamente convertiti nel Giappone e li schiavi tormentati in Algieri, senza esser giamai escito da questa città e suoi contorni il detto servo di Dio. and the sick at home, E che in hore straordinarie della notte, essendo aggravati l'infermi e desiderandolo f. 127v con anzietà per il sollievo del male delle loro gravissime infermità e febri maligne, si penetrava per le celle, essendo le porte serrate à chiave, e per i dormitorij del noviziato, come successe al detto P. M. Toro, portando seco ciò che havevano di bisogno per loro consolazione e riposo, publicando tutti non solo la sollecitudine del soccorso, mà la providenza del medesimo, e del sollievo e del remedio. whose hidden desires he provided for. E non poche volte accadde che, essendo alcuni infermi senza lena e senza voglia di mangiare, appetendo alcuni frutti ò comestibili non corrispondenti al tempo, li trovava la carità del detto servo di Dio sì alla mano, che solo con porsi le mani nelle maniche cavava fuori tutto ciò che appetivano e desideravano: per il che si refrigeravano e si consolavano. E che tutto ciò che di già ha detto, non solo lo sà per la notizia che gli diedero li religiosi già sopracitati, mà ancora perchè gli lo dissero il Maestro Frà Fernando de Valdez Namely witness VI of the process of 1678. Summarium, pp. 133–35. e il P. Predicatore Frà Francesco de Velasco Namely witness VII of the same process. Ibid., pp. 136–38., li quali hoggi vivono, e con i quali successe il medesimo. E ancora lo sà, perchè è assai generale e corrente frà tutti, sì religiosi come secolari, senza che vi sia un minimo dubbio f. 128 in questa parte.
[As to the forty-first of the said articles, this witness said that he knows, from having heard it said by the old religious of his order, and especially by those mentioned in the fifth and by Fr. Master Fra Cristóbal de Toro, who is living today, and as public and notorious, that the said servant of God Fra Martin de Porres had the endowments of agility and subtlety of the blessed in this life for the benefit of the needy sick, because, as this witness has already said in the thirty-ninth article, the newly converted in Japan and the tormented slaves in Algiers experienced his charity in the Kingdom of Mexico, without the said servant of God ever having gone out of this city and its surroundings. And that at unusual hours of the night, when the sick were worse and longed for him anxiously for the relief of the suffering of their very grave infirmities and malignant fevers, he made his way into the cells, the doors being locked with a key, and into the dormitories of the novitiate, as happened to the said Fr. Master Toro, bringing with him what they needed for their consolation and rest, all proclaiming not only the solicitude of the succor, but also its providence, and that of the relief and of the remedy. And not a few times it happened that, when some of the sick were without strength and without wish to eat, craving certain fruits or foods not corresponding to the season, the charity of the said servant of God found them so at hand that merely by putting his hands into his sleeves he drew out all that they craved and desired: by which they were refreshed and consoled. And that all that he has already said he knows not only from the information which the religious already cited above gave him, but also because Master Fra Fernando de Valdez and the Preacher Fr. Fra Francisco de Velasco, who are living today, and with whom the same happened, told it to him. And he knows it also because it is very general and current among all, religious as well as secular, without there being the least doubt in this regard.]
[31] In quanto al quadragesimo quinto de' detti articoli disse questo testimonio che sà, per haverlo udito dire generalmente ed in speciale dalli religiosi de quáli ha fatta menzione nell' articolo quinto, A most prudent man che la prudenza del detto servo di Dio Frà Martino de Porres fù molto eccellente e singolare, e il successo di quanto egli diceva assai felice. E la fama della sua virtù e santità era sì certa frà tutti, he was consulted by the leading men of the commonwealth che come a vero e sicurissimo oracolo ricorrevano à lui persone di grand' autorità di posto e stima, e superiori nella republica, e altre molte d'inferior gerarchia, alle quali rispondeva nelle consulte sì spirituali come temporali ciò che era bene per la loro salute, ricevendolo tutti con gran rassegnazione nella divina Maestà, e tenendo per certissimo che solo quello, che gli diceva e consigliava, gli tornava conto il farlo. E li successi manifestavano che il servo di Dio parlava con spirito superiore, perchè quanto diceva anticipatamente, tanto si vedeva verificato con il tempo [Witness XXX of the process of 1660; witnesses VI, VII of the process of 1678. Ibid., p. 169, §2; p. 172, §§43–46; p. 173, §§50–54.].
[As to the forty-fifth of the said articles, this witness said that he knows, from having heard it said generally and in particular by the religious of whom he has made mention in the fifth article, that the prudence of the said servant of God Fra Martin de Porres was very excellent and singular, and the outcome of what he said very happy. And the fame of his virtue and holiness was so certain among all that, as to a true and most sure oracle, persons of great authority, of position and esteem, and superiors in the commonwealth, and many others of inferior rank, had recourse to him, to whom he answered in consultations both spiritual and temporal what was good for their welfare, all receiving it with great resignation to the divine Majesty, and holding for most certain that only what he told and counseled them was to their profit to do. And the outcomes showed that the servant of God spoke with a higher spirit, because whatever he said beforehand was seen verified with time.]
[32] and he took pains to conceal his own penances. In quanto al quadragesimo sesto de' detti articoli disse questo testimonio che il detto servo di Dio Frà Martino de Porres mostrò la sua gran prudenza nell' attentione che hebbe di occultare i suoi digiuni e dissimulare nel refettorio la sua astinenza e le altre mortificazioni, discipline e penitenze ed altre opere di pietà che faceva [Witness XXIII of the process of 1678. Ibid., p. 265, §68.].
[As to the forty-sixth of the said articles, this witness said that the said servant of God Fra Martin de Porres showed his great prudence in the attention which he had to hide his fasts and to disguise in the refectory his abstinence and the other mortifications, disciplines and penances and other works of piety which he did.]
[33] f. 132 In quanto al quinquagesimo primo de' detti articoli disse questo testimonio che sà nella forma detta nell' antecedente che, Again on his worship of the Most Holy Sacrament come di già ha dichiarato in altri, udiva messa ogni giorno il detto servo di Dio Frà Martino f. 132v de Porres servendo quante messe poteva assai à buon hora ad effetto di star poi disoccupato per attendere al servizio dell' infermaria et ad altre cose, le quali richiedevano la sua persona, e che visitava la chiesa e cappelle di essa, e quelle di dentro del convento, e li tabernacoli che ne passaggi e scale sono, e che assisteva ancora ai divini officij e processioni, e che frequentava li santi sagramenti della penitenza e comunione [See above, no. 17. Witness XXIII of the process of 1678. Ibid., p. 68, §§99–101.].
[As to the fifty-first of the said articles, this witness said that he knows, in the form stated in the preceding one, that, as he has already declared in others, the said servant of God Fra Martin de Porres heard Mass every day, serving as many Masses as he could very early, in order afterwards to be free to attend to the service of the infirmary and to other things which required his person, and that he visited the church and its chapels, and those within the convent, and the tabernacles which are in the passages and stairways, and that he also attended the divine offices and processions, and that he frequented the holy sacraments of penance and communion.]
[34] f. 133 In quanto al quinquagesimo terzo de' detti articoli disse questo testimonio che sà nella forma riferita nell' immediati, and on the chastisements of his body, che il detto servo di Dio Frà Martino de Porres negandosi à se stesso e non mostrando la propria volontà, solo pare che la conservò contro se stesso nell' asprezza e rigori con i quali si trattava nei digiuni, penitenze, cilizij e rigorose discipline, ed in altre mortificazioni che faceva per castigare il suo corpo, come lo mostrò in un occasione, nella quale, comandandogli il superiore che ponesse le lenzuola nel suo mal acconcio letticciuolo che haveva per ricoprire la sua mortificazione, which he strove to reconcile with obedience. i suoi rigori e asprezze e che vegliava contiuamente le notti, obbedi in quanto apparteneva al porre le lenzuola. Peròsi pose frà le medesime vestito con la tonica che portava per ordinario, la quale in verità era un rigoroso cilizio per la qualità del panno che era d'un cordellato assai rozzo e che con il sangue delle discipline
[As to the fifty-third of the said articles, this witness said that he knows, in the form related in the immediately preceding ones, that the said servant of God Fra Martin de Porres, denying himself and not showing his own will, seems to have kept it only against himself in the harshness and rigors with which he treated himself in fasts, penances, hair shirts and rigorous disciplines, and in other mortifications which he did to chastise his body, as he showed on one occasion, on which, the superior commanding him to put sheets on the ill-made little bed which he had, in order to cover up his mortification, his rigors and harshnesses, and because he kept watch continually through the nights, he obeyed in what pertained to putting on the sheets. But he placed himself between them dressed in the tunic which he ordinarily wore, which in truth was a rigorous hair shirt because of the quality of the cloth, which was of a very coarse corded stuff and which with the blood of the disciplines]
f. 133v che si faceva nelle spalle era assaissimo indurita e interizita [Witness VII of the process of 1678. Ibid., p. 211, §§57–59.], causando à tutti maraviglie ed edificazione il vedere in qual forma trovava il detto servo di Dio modo di obbedire e di non mancare alla giustizia del comando, ed insieme di non haver sollievo ò interruzzione nella costanza di patire e di mortificarsi.
[which was made on his shoulders, was very greatly hardened and stiffened, causing wonder and edification to all at seeing in what way the said servant of God found a means of obeying and of not failing in the justice of the command, and at the same time of having no relief or interruption in the constancy of suffering and mortifying himself.]
[35] f. 134v In quanto al quinquagesimo sesto de' detti articoli disse questo testimonio che sà nella forma riferita negl' antecedenti, He showed fortitude of mind, che il detto servo di Dio Frà Martino de Porres fù sempre armato di gran fortezza, non solamente in quella che mostrò vincendo se stesso, abbattendo le passioni naturali e renunziando gl'applausi, stime e vanità dalle quali poteva esser sollevato e divertito, trovandosi figlio d'un cavaliere d'habito e che lo confessò per tale, especially in the urgent care of the sick ma anche nell' esercizio continuo dell' occupazione dell' infermaria, senza che cosa alcuna fosse bastante per vincerlo ò ritirarlo da questa occupazione sì travagliosa ò raffreddarlo nei fervorosi affetti con i quali si esercitava in essa, ma bensì perseverò senza mai straccarsi generosamente e costantemente fino al fine con indicibil patienza e sofferenza See above, no. 25..
[As to the fifty-sixth of the said articles, this witness said that he knows, in the form related in the preceding ones, that the said servant of God Fra Martin de Porres was always armed with great fortitude, not only in that which he showed in conquering himself, beating down the natural passions and renouncing the applause, esteem and vanities by which he could have been lifted up and distracted, finding himself the son of a knight of a military habit who acknowledged him as such, but also in the continual exercise of the occupation of the infirmary, without anything being sufficient to overcome him or draw him back from this so laborious occupation, or to cool him in the fervent affections with which he exercised himself in it; but indeed he persevered without ever tiring, generously and constantly to the end, with unspeakable patience and endurance.]
[36] f. 137v In quanto al sessagesimo terzo de' detti articoli disse questo testimonio che sà di udito e nella forma riferita nell' immediati, che il detto servo di Dio Frà Martino de Porres fù di tal forma temperato, and with abstinence of every kind. e astinente, e nel mangiar che faceva non pareva possibile il poter vivere con esso, mentre non solo digiunava le quaresime, vigilie ed altri giorni instituiti dalla nostra Santa Madre Chiesa ò ordinati dalla costituzione del suo ordine, ma anche tutto l'anno digiunava, perchè il suo mangiare era solamente alcuni minuzzoli di pane nel refettorio principale con tutta la comitiva, dissimulando di mangiare le vivande con tenere i piatti d'avanti, mà le radunava per conservarle à poveri. E nella infermità era necessario con precetto di obbedienza, acciò mangiasse qualche cosa da vantaggio; conforme lo faceva, mà per obbedire più che per volontà [Witness VII of the process of 1678. Ibid., p. 211, §§61–63.].
[As to the sixty-third of the said articles, this witness said that he knows by hearsay and in the form related in the immediately preceding ones, that the said servant of God Fra Martin de Porres was so temperate and abstinent, and in the eating that he did it did not seem possible to be able to live on it, since not only did he fast in the Lents, vigils and other days instituted by our Holy Mother Church or ordained by the constitution of his order, but he also fasted all the year, because his eating was only some crumbs of bread in the principal refectory with the whole community, pretending to eat the dishes by keeping the plates before him, but he gathered them to keep them for the poor. And in sickness it was necessary, with a precept of obedience, that he should eat something more; which he did, but to obey rather than of his own will.]
[37] In quanto al sessagesimo quarto de' detti articoli disse questo testimonio che sà per haverlo udito dire nella forma detta nell' immediati, che il detto f. 138 servo di Dio Frà Martino de Porres nella medesima forma che si asteneva con la temperanza nelle cose riferite nell' immediati articoli si asteneva ancora dal sonno, By night he gave himself to prayer, passando tutta la notte in vigilia senza dormire, in orazione, in molte e rigorose austerità e penitenze, disciplinandosi fortemente, come di già ha detto nell' articolo quinto, al quale si rimette [Witness I of the process of 1664. Summarium, p. 209, §§39–43.].
[As to the sixty-fourth of the said articles, this witness said that he knows, from having heard it said in the form stated in the immediately preceding ones, that the said servant of God Fra Martin de Porres, in the same way that he abstained with temperance in the things related in the immediately preceding articles, abstained also from sleep, passing the whole night in vigil without sleeping, in prayer, in many and rigorous austerities and penances, disciplining himself severely, as he has already said in the fifth article, to which he refers.]
[38] In quanto al sessagesimo quinto de' detti articoli disse questo testimonio che sà nella forma riferita nell' immediati, che l'habito del detto f. 138 servo di Dio Frà Martino de Porres sì esteriore come interiore era di materia assai rozza e grossa, he was clothed in the roughest garments che per se solo era un cilizio assai rigoroso il portarlo per esser di un genere che quà in questo Regno si chiama cordellato. E della medesima materia era il tonacello interiore sotto il quale portava rigidissimi cilizij, che lo mortificavano assai e lo infiacchivano di tal sorte, che à pena si poteva raddrizzare [Witnesses I, VII, CXV of the process of 1678. Ibid., p. 245, §14; p. 246, §19; p. 247, §§30–31.].
[As to the sixty-fifth of the said articles, this witness said that he knows, in the form related in the immediately preceding ones, that the habit of the said servant of God Fra Martin de Porres, both outer and inner, was of very rough and coarse material, so that wearing it was by itself a very rigorous hair shirt, being of a kind which here in this Kingdom is called cordellate. And of the same material was the inner tunic, under which he wore most rigid hair shirts, which mortified him greatly and weakened him so much that he could scarcely straighten himself.]
[39] In quanto al sessagesimo sesto de' detti articoli disse questo testimonio che sà secondo e nella forma di già dichiarata nel secondo e quinto, che il detto servo di Dio Frà f. 138v Martino de Porres teneva un assai male acconcio letto nella sua camera di solo alcune tavole, and most sparing of sleep le quali erano ricoperte con una coperta assai humile e povera. E ciò era con disposizione ed arte, per dare ad intendere che haveva in che dormire, perchè il certo è che il poco spazio di sonno, che prendeva per qualche breve e necessario sollievo, lo prendeva dormendo gettato sopra i poggiuoli del chiostro, he lay on the bier of the dead. ò sopra il cataletto de morti, che era il più frequente, il quale per ordinario stà nella sala del capitolo, ove pongono li religiosi morti per sotterrarli, servendo al detto servo di Dio per prova di morire il porsi in esso. E da questo letto si alzava, havendo dormito assai poco, per andare à sonare la campana dell' alba, quale esercizio hebbe in tutta la sua vita [Witnesses VI, VII, XXIII of the process of 1678. Ibid., pp. 242–43, §§7–21.]. His solicitude for the sick and the poor. E ciò fatto, se ne veniva alla sua infermaria à preparare e dare i medicamenti all' infermi, che havevano di bisogno; e di qui se ne andava alla chiesa à servire tutte le messe che poteva. E finalmente dice che amava i poveri di tal forma che come dicono li portava sopra di se, manifestando in ciò e nella compassione che haveva di vederli afflitti e bisognosi, le sue pietose viscere [Witnesses I, VI, VII of the process of 1678. Ibid., p. 105, §§28–29; p. 106, §33; p. 107, §50–52; p. 108, §55.].
[As to the sixty-sixth of the said articles, this witness said that he knows, according to and in the form already declared in the second and fifth, that the said servant of God Fra Martin de Porres kept in his room a very ill-made bed of only some boards, which were covered with a very humble and poor coverlet. And this was by design and art, to give it to be understood that he had something to sleep on, because the certain thing is that the little space of sleep which he took for some brief and necessary relief he took sleeping thrown down upon the benches of the cloister, or upon the bier of the dead, which was most frequent, which ordinarily stands in the chapter hall, where they place the dead religious in order to bury them, placing himself on it serving the said servant of God as a rehearsal for dying. And from this bed he rose, having slept very little, to go and ring the dawn bell, which task he had all his life. And this done, he would come to his infirmary to prepare and give the medicines to the sick who needed them; and from here he would go to the church to serve all the Masses he could. And finally he says that he loved the poor so much that, as they say, he carried them upon himself, manifesting in this and in the compassion which he had at seeing them afflicted and needy his tender heart.]
[40] f. 139 In quanto al sessagesimo settimo de' detti articoli disse questo testimonio che sà secondo e come di già ha detto nell' antecedente, Nor was his diligence less in hiding his mortifications, che il detto servo di Dio Frà Martino de Porres procurava con tutti li mezzi che poteva di occultare con grandissima circonspezzione i suoi digiuni, mortificazioni e penitenze. so that he chastised his body by night among the sepulchers of the church. E si comprova bene ciò, perchè per disciplinarsi, acciò non lo sentissero, entrava molte volte nelle sepolture della chiesa in hore più quiete della notte, procurando in tutto di severissimamente castigare il suo corpo per ridurlo soggetto e subordinato, come di già ha dichiarato in altri, quali qui riproduce.
[As to the sixty-seventh of the said articles, this witness said that he knows, according to and as he has already said in the preceding one, that the said servant of God Fra Martin de Porres sought by all the means he could to hide with very great circumspection his fasts, mortifications and penances. And this is well proved, because in order to discipline himself, so that they should not hear him, he many times entered the burial vaults of the church in the quieter hours of the night, seeking in everything to chastise his body most severely in order to reduce it to subjection and subordination, as he has already declared in others, which he here reproduces.]
[41] f. 142 In quanto al settuagesimo secondo de' detti articoli disse questo testimonio che sà nella forma riferita nell'immediati, che alcuni prelati e religiosi particolari, With how great gentleness and humility he underwent reproofs, even unjust ones per provare la forza e realità della santità del detto servo di Dio Frà Martino de Porres, lo mortificorono molto con parole e azzioni assai rigorose. E tutte le volte che ciò facevano, posto in venia ai piedi degl' uni e degl' altri, dimandava con humiltà perdono delle colpe e cause che havevano dato motivo à quelle dimostrazioni [Witnesses VII, XXIII of the process of 1678. Ibid., p. 222, §32; p. 224, §43.]. singular examples show. E più singolarmente ciò successe in un' occasione, nella quale pare che eccedesse, facendo pianger la f. 142v comitiva vedendo contro una sì grande innocenza e santità di vita un indiscreta ed eccedente dimostrazione. E quando si alzò da venia, il detto servo di Dio se ne andò ai piedi del prelato per l'assoluzione delle colpe che non haveva, facendo tutti maravigliare, parendogli di vedere un angelo, come lo faceva comparire il modo col quale haveva sopportato una sì indegna e strana riprensione. E andando alla cucina, portò nella mensa al detto prelato un regalo di frutti e comestibili della terra, che fù una suca arrostita (la quale è una sorte di erbe che l'Indiani ne fanno del pane). E in un altr' occasione con un religioso infermo di risentita e indomita condizione, havendo trattato con gran rigore per due volte il detto servo di Dio in un medesimo giorno, senza che fosse vinta l'umiltà e piacevolezza e buona attentione del detto servo di Dio, e che mentre più si gli humiliava, più l'infermo si irritava, onde senza risponder cosa alcuna si partì da lui per lungo tempo. E secondo stimano, si andò à porre in orazione e dimandare a Dio che mutasse à quel religioso il rigido naturale che haveva, e gli rendesse la salute e la cognizione della sua poca ragione, sofferenza e patienza f. 143 nell infermità. E tornando doppo à vederlo, gli disse: "Molto in collera e stato, fratello, ed ha ben ragione. Però avverta che la collera gli può accrescere il male". E gli portò un piattino di capperi, quali conobbe il detto servo di Dio, che desiderava. E ponendoglieli avanti gli disse: "Via, fratello mio, mangi, e non s'affligga di nulla, che Dio lo soccorrerà in tutto". E havendone mangiati alcuni, tornò à dirgli: "Vediamo come stà la gamba"; — che era l'infermità che haveva, e l'haveva quasi tutta incancarita. Et havendogliela scoperta, in quell' occasione passò la mano sopra di essa, e tornò à dirgli: "Via, fratello, confidi in Dio, che non sarà nulla". E da quell' istante riconobbe l'infermo gran sollievo e riposo. Finalmente in breve stiede totalmente bene e sano. E da questo giorno fù il detto religioso banditore della santità
[As to the seventy-second of the said articles, this witness said that he knows, in the form related in the immediately preceding ones, that certain prelates and particular religious, in order to test the strength and reality of the holiness of the said servant of God Fra Martin de Porres, mortified him greatly with very harsh words and actions. And every time they did this, prostrate in venia at the feet of the one and the other, he humbly asked pardon for the faults and causes which had given occasion to those demonstrations. And this happened most singularly on one occasion, on which it seems that the prelate went too far, making the community weep at seeing an indiscreet and excessive demonstration against so great an innocence and holiness of life. And when he rose from the venia, the said servant of God went to the feet of the prelate for absolution from faults which he did not have, making all wonder, for it seemed to them that they were seeing an angel, as the way in which he had borne so unworthy and strange a reproof made him appear. And going to the kitchen, he brought to the said prelate at table a present of fruits and foods of the country, which was a roasted suca (which is a kind of plant from which the Indians make bread). And on another occasion, with a sick religious of resentful and untamed disposition, who had twice on the same day treated the said servant of God with great harshness, without the humility and pleasantness and good attention of the said servant of God being overcome, and while the more he humbled himself to him the more the sick man was irritated, whereupon, without answering anything, he left him for a long time. And as they reckon, he went to place himself in prayer and to ask God to change in that religious the rigid nature which he had, and to give him back health and the knowledge of his little reason, endurance and patience in his infirmity. And returning afterwards to see him, he said to him: "You have been very angry, brother, and you are quite right. But take care that anger may increase your illness." And he brought him a little dish of capers, which the said servant of God knew that he desired. And setting them before him he said to him: "Come, my brother, eat, and do not distress yourself about anything, for God will help you in everything." And when he had eaten some of them, he said to him again: "Let us see how the leg is"; — which was the infirmity that he had, and it had become almost entirely gangrenous. And having uncovered it, on that occasion he passed his hand over it, and said to him again: "Come, brother, trust in God, for it will be nothing." And from that instant the sick man felt great relief and rest. Finally in a short time he was entirely well and sound. And from this day the said religious was a herald of the holiness]
[and prodigious virtue of the said servant of God; and that similar cases were many and very ordinary, which happened to him with different sick religious.]
[42] In quanto al settuagesimo terzo de' detti articoli disse questo testimonio che sà per haverlo udito dire generalmente da ogni genere di persone, e per publico, He knew on the assertion of many e notorio, e certa verità frà i religiosi anziani e moderni del suo ordine, e specialmente si ricorda che gli lo riferirono li f. 143v sopracitati nell' articolo quinto, ed hora si ricorda di haverlo udito dire ancora dalli Revdi Padri Maestri Frà Christofaro del Toro, Frà Ferdinando de Valdez e dal Predicatore Frà Francesco de Velasco, li quali hoggi vivono, che Iddio Nostro Signore si degnò d'adornare il detto suo servo Frà Martino de Porres con molti doni sopranaturali. that Martin was endowed with preternatural gifts E in particolare si ricorda che, stando in orazione, il detto servo di Dio andava in estasi ed era rapito, risplendendogli il volto principalmente stando in questo santo esercizio nella cappella del capitolo, of agility, dove molte volte lo viddero come di già ha detto, ed altre volte elevato in aria quattro ò cinque braccia di quattro palmi l'uno, abbracciato con l'imagine di Nostro Signor Giesù Cristo Crocefisso, che è collocata nell' altare del detto capitolo, con le labra poste sopra la piaga del suo santissimo costato; del che escivano ammirati li religiosi, che in questa forma lo vedevano. E sà parimente che, of subtlety, quando era conveniente, si rendeva invisibile il detto servo di Dio à quelli che lo cercavano per interromperlo dall' orazione. Però quando il superiore gli commandava che comparisse, subito si gli faceva avanti, quatunque differenti religiosi lo cercavano e non lo trovavano [Witnesses II, VI, VII of the process of 1678. Summarium, p. 80, §§79, 80; p. 81, §§24, 95; p. 83, §§112–15; p. 308, §7.]. E che hebbe f. 144 ancora il dono della profezia, il quale fù assai evidente, of prophecy predicendo molte cose che doppo in effetto succedettero, come le haveva predette antecedentemente [Witnesses II, XII of the process of 1660; witnesses VI, VII of the process of 1678. Ibid., pp. 276–77, §§4–16; pp. 280–81, §§280–81.].
[As to the seventy-third of the said articles, this witness said that he knows, from having heard it said generally by every kind of person, and as public and notorious and certain truth among the old and modern religious of his order, and especially he remembers that those cited above in the fifth article related it to him, and now he remembers having heard it said also by the Rev. Fathers Masters Fra Cristóbal del Toro, Fra Fernando de Valdez and by the Preacher Fra Francisco de Velasco, who are living today, that God our Lord deigned to adorn his said servant Fra Martin de Porres with many supernatural gifts. And in particular he remembers that, when in prayer, the said servant of God went into ecstasy and was rapt, his face shining, principally when engaged in this holy exercise in the chapter chapel, where many times they saw him, as he has already said, and at other times raised in the air four or five braccia of four palms each, embracing the image of Our Lord Jesus Christ Crucified which is placed on the altar of the said chapter, with his lips placed upon the wound of his most holy side; at which the religious who saw him in this way came out amazed. And he knows likewise that, when it was fitting, the said servant of God made himself invisible to those who were looking for him to interrupt him from prayer. But when the superior commanded him to appear, he at once came before him, although different religious had been looking for him and had not found him. And that he had also the gift of prophecy, which was very evident, foretelling many things which afterwards in fact came to pass as he had foretold them beforehand.]
[43] and of searching hearts. Ed hebbe il dono di conoscere l'interiore de' cuori, dicendo, quando era conveniente, ciò che in essi racchiudevano quelli, che lo cercavano per consultare i loro bisogni spirituali e temporali [Witnesses I, VII of the process of 1678. Ibid., p. 283, §§1–3.]. E quantunque l'infermi afflitti e sconsolati in hore straordinarie della notte haveano di bisogno di qualche remedio ò d'altra cosa per sollievo de' loro mali, senza che alcuno gli ne dasse parte, andava à soccorrerli, essendo le porte e dormitorii serrati [Witnesses XII, XIII, XVI of the process of 1660; witness II of the process of 1678. Ibid., p. 122, §§12–13; pp. 123–26, §§26–29; pp. 129–30, §§59–60.]. Wonderful examples. Ed hebbe ancora il dono dell' agilità e sottigliezza, perche senza esser escito in tutta la sua vita da questa città, lo viddero molte volte in quella di Algieri, China e nel Giappone, soccorrendo l'infermi, e animando e confortando nella nostra santa fede cattolica li schiavi, e insegnando à bambini i misterij divini [Witnesses XXII, XXIV, XLIX, LXXVII, XCII. CXVII of the process of 1678. Ibid., pp. 295–99, §§13–24.]. E specialmente dice che li detti PP. Maestri Frà Christofaro de Toro Ibid., p. 145, §129., Frà Ferdinando de Valdez Ibid., p. 134, §84. e il P. Predicatore Frà Francesco de Velasco Ibid., pp. 136–37, §97. gli dissero, come essendo infermi, penetrò il detto servo di Dio nelle loro celle, havendo bisogno di qualche remedio ò sollievo dei mali che pativano, li quali gli dissero che di già l'havevano dechiarato. E simili f. 144v casi gli successero molti con varij religiosi, quali per non ricordarsene bene non li adduce; mà bensì sà esser publico e notorio, e certa verità che hebbe altri molti doni sopranaturali, che ricevè dalla divina misericordia, la quale lo nobilitò con molti favori, come di già ha detto negl' articoli trigesimo nono e quadragesimo primo, ed in altri, quali qui riproduce. E sà ancora che predisse il giorno e hora della sua morte [Witness VII of the process of 1660; witnesses V, VIII of the process of 1678. Ibid., pp. 323–24, §§1–5.], He foretold the day of his death. e che la santissima vergine Maria gli parlò molte volte, stando il detto suo servo in orazione [Witnesses VIII, LV of the process of 1678. Ibid., pp. 189 and 192, §§20 and 47.].
[And he had the gift of knowing the inside of hearts, saying, when it was fitting, what those who sought him to consult about their spiritual and temporal needs enclosed in them. And whenever the afflicted and disconsolate sick at unusual hours of the night had need of some remedy or of something else for the relief of their ills, without anyone informing him of it, he would go to succor them, the doors and dormitories being locked. And he had also the gift of agility and subtlety, because, without having gone out of this city in his whole life, they saw him many times in that of Algiers, in China and in Japan, succoring the sick, and encouraging and comforting the slaves in our holy catholic faith, and teaching the divine mysteries to children. And especially he says that the said Fathers Masters Fra Cristóbal de Toro, Fra Fernando de Valdez and the Preacher Fr. Fra Francisco de Velasco told him how, when they were sick, the said servant of God made his way into their cells when they had need of some remedy or relief for the ills they were suffering, and they told him that they had already declared it. And many similar cases happened to him with various religious, which he does not adduce because he does not remember them well; but he does know it to be public and notorious and certain truth that he had many other supernatural gifts which he received from the divine mercy, which ennobled him with many favors, as he has already said in the thirty-ninth and forty-first articles, and in others, which he here reproduces. And he knows also that he foretold the day and hour of his death, and that the most holy Virgin Mary spoke to him many times while her said servant was in prayer.]
[44] In quanto al settuagesimo quarto de' detti articoli disse questo testimonio che sà nella forma riferita nell' antecedente, e per relazione costante e tradizione ferma di uni agl' altri religiosi del suo ordine, che il detto servo di Dio Frà Martino de Porres, in una occasione che andava disciplinandosi per i chiostri del convento rigorosamente e sanguinosamente, On the apparitions of angels lo accompagnavano quattro angeli, che in forma di giovani bellissimi portavano torcie accese nelle mani. E che in un altr' occasione escendo da matutino gli assisterono nella medesima forma altre due angeli dopo d'haver assistito all' officio minore f. 145 della Madonna, il quale si dice in certi giorni determinati avanti un imagine di questa divina Regina, che è nel dormitorio alto avanti del choro, al quale assisteva il detto servo di Dio sempre che si diceva [Witnesses XIII and XXVIII of the process of 1660; witnesses II, VII of the process of 1678. Ibid., pp. 302–303, §§1–8.].
[As to the seventy-fourth of the said articles, this witness said that he knows, in the form related in the preceding one, and by constant report and firm tradition from some religious of his order to others, that the said servant of God Fra Martin de Porres, on one occasion when he was going through the cloisters of the convent disciplining himself rigorously and bloodily, was accompanied by four angels, who in the form of most beautiful youths carried lighted torches in their hands. And that on another occasion, coming out from matins, two other angels attended him in the same form, after he had attended the little office of Our Lady, which is said on certain fixed days before an image of this divine Queen which is in the upper dormitory before the choir, which the said servant of God attended whenever it was said.]
[45] and his lofty knowledge. In quanto al settuagesimo sesto de' detti articoli disse questo testimonio che sà per haverlo udito dire nella forma detta nell' immediati, che il detto servo di Dio Frà Martino f. 145v de Porres fù di assai chiaro ingegno, e pronto in rispondere alle materie che si gli proponevano, per difficultose che fossero, e sempre circa il bene spirituale de' fedeli, di tal forma che pareva che havesse scienza infusa, perchè essendo senza lettere rispondeva à tutto con gran profondità. E nella medesima forma parlava dei divini misterij e delle grandezze di Dio, di sorte che pareva fosse pieno di Spirito santo [Witnesses I, VII, XXIII of the process of 1678. Ibid., p. 285, §§1–7; pp. 286–88, §§12–22.].
[As to the seventy-sixth of the said articles, this witness said that he knows, from having heard it said in the form stated in the immediately preceding ones, that the said servant of God Fra Martin de Porres was of very clear intelligence, and prompt in answering the matters which were put to him, however difficult they might be, and always concerning the spiritual good of the faithful, in such a way that it seemed that he had infused knowledge, because, being without letters, he answered everything with great profundity. And in the same way he spoke of the divine mysteries and of the greatness of God, so that he seemed to be full of the Holy Spirit.]
[46] f. 146 In quanto al settuagesimo ottavo de' detti articoli disse questo testimonio che sà secondo e come di già ha riferito nell' antecedente, To the servant of God, who died most piously che essendo giunto il detto servo di Dio Frà Martino de Porres agl' ultimi giorni della sua vita, conoscendo che quella era la sua ultima infermità e che lo chiamava Dio, si dispose per la partenza con molta speranza nella sua pietà, e con molti fervorosi atti d'amor di Dio, e pieno di lagrime, piangendo e lagrimando la sua passata vita, come se oziosamente l'havesse tutta passata, con grand' edificazione de' circostanti e compunzione, vedendo un f. 146v anima si pura con sì teneri affetti e sì gran sentimento, si ammiravano, esageravano e piangevano al suo pianto. E disponendosi per la certa giornata e stretto conto che render doveva à Dio, dimandò li santi sagramenti del viatico e estrema unzione, dimandando replicate volte con humiltà assai grande e lagrime perdono ai superiori e religiosi in comunità, ed in particolare del male esempio e scandalo, che in qualsivoglia modo gli havesse cagionato. E assistito dalla santissima Vergine Maria Madre di Dio Nostra Signora e dal suo patriarca S. Domenico, S. Vincenzo Ferrero e da altri santi e da un numeroso concorso di angeli, rese il suo spirito al Signore in un pacifico sonno il di trè di novembre dell' anno milleseicento trentanove, lasciando assai sicure speranze, che subito era passato à godere eternamente Iddio, à ricever la corona del suo invincibile valore e costante travaglio per suo divino amore Witness VII of the process of 1678. Ibid., pp. 329–31..
[As to the seventy-eighth of the said articles, this witness said that he knows, according to and as he has already related in the preceding one, that the said servant of God Fra Martin de Porres, having come to the last days of his life, knowing that this was his last illness and that God was calling him, prepared himself for his departure with much hope in His loving-kindness, and with many fervent acts of the love of God, and full of tears, weeping and lamenting his past life as if he had spent it all idly, to the great edification and compunction of those standing by, who, seeing a soul so pure with such tender affections and such great feeling, wondered, exclaimed and wept at his weeping. And preparing himself for the certain day and the strict account which he had to render to God, he asked for the holy sacraments of the viaticum and extreme unction, asking repeatedly, with very great humility and tears, pardon of the superiors and religious in community, and in particular for the bad example and scandal which he might in any way have caused them. And attended by the most holy Virgin Mary, Mother of God, Our Lady, and by his patriarch St. Dominic, St. Vincent Ferrer and by other saints and by a numerous concourse of angels, he gave back his spirit to the Lord in a peaceful sleep on the third day of November of the year sixteen hundred thirty-nine, leaving very sure hopes that he had at once passed to enjoy God eternally, to receive the crown of his invincible valor and constant toil for His divine love.]
[47] In quanto al settuagesimo nono de' detti articoli disse questo testimonio che sà secondo e nella forma riferita nell' immediati, che subito che morì il detto servo di f. 147 Dio Frà Martino de Porres, cavorono il suo venerabile corpo alla cappella maggiore della chiesa del suo convento, conforme costumano nella sua religione. multitudes ran together, E che subito che si fece giorno, concorse tutta la gente della città alla sudetta chiesa, trasportata da loro affetti e devozione. Ed à forza volevano bagiargli le mani e piedi, tenendolo et acclamandolo tutti per santo con generalità, senza che persona alcuna s'opponesse sentendo diversamente. delighted by the sweet fragrance of the corpse E che tutto il tempo che stiede senza esser sotterrato, sentirono che esciva dal suo corpo un odore assai particolare e sopranaturale, che ricreava quanti s'accostavano al feretro, ed esciva fino al cemeterio e chiostro principale. E che ad alcuni causava curiosità esaminando ciò che fosse, e ad altri, i quali lo sapevano, lo ricercavano, restando
[As to the seventy-ninth of the said articles, this witness said that he knows, according to and in the form related in the immediately preceding ones, that as soon as the said servant of God Fra Martin de Porres died, they carried his venerable body out to the main chapel of the church of his convent, as they are accustomed in his religion. And that as soon as it was day, all the people of the city ran together to the said church, carried away by their affections and devotion. And by force they wished to kiss his hands and feet, all holding and acclaiming him generally as a saint, without any person opposing it by thinking otherwise. And that during all the time that he remained unburied, they perceived that there came forth from his body a very particular and supernatural fragrance, which refreshed all who approached the bier, and went out as far as the cemetery and the principal cloister. And that in some it caused curiosity, examining what it might be, and in others, who knew it, they sought it, remaining]
tutti ammirati, celebrando le maraviglie di Dio, che è miracoloso ne suoi santi. and they paid him solemn obsequies. E che à suo tempo lo portorono à sotterrare nella sala del capitolo, che è sepoltura generale e comune dei religiosi, portandolo sopra le sue proprie spalle le persone di maggior autorità e stima della città, frà le quali uno di esse fù l'Illustrissimo Signore D. Feliciano de Vega, Arcivescovo del Messico. E da questa sepoltura sà che è stato trasferito alla cappella del Santo Cristo, che stà all' entrare dell' infermaria, f. 147v sito e luogo che fù cella del detto servo di Dio, dove al presente stà, come di già ha dichiarato nelle dimande del Signor Promotore della fede, alle quali si rimette Witness VII of the process of 1678. Summarium, pp. 341–42; pp. 349–50..
[all amazed, celebrating the wonders of God, who is wonderful in his saints. And that in due time they carried him to be buried in the chapter hall, which is the general and common burial place of the religious, persons of the greatest authority and esteem of the city carrying him on their own shoulders, among whom one was the Most Illustrious Lord Don Feliciano de Vega, Archbishop of Mexico. And he knows that from this grave he was transferred to the chapel of the Holy Christ, which is at the entrance of the infirmary, the site and place which was the cell of the said servant of God, where he is at present, as he has already declared in the questions of the Lord Promoter of the faith, to which he refers.]
[48] f. 149v In quanto all' ottuagesimo secondo de' detti articoli disse questo testimonio che sà nella forma riferita nell' immediati, che Dio Nostro Signore honorò il detto suo servo Frà Martino de Porres con la testimonianza di molti miracoli, He worked very many prodigies while alive, veramente grandi, che fece per sua intercessione quando era vivo, perchè li bruti e fiere d'indomita e fiera natura l'obbedivano e si rendevano mansuete all' imperio della sua voce, come lo accreditorono il caso del gallinaccio (che dicono in alcun luogo di questo processo essere uccello di fiera natura), il quale si ridusse di venire il giorno all' orto del convento, acciò lo medicasse il detto servo f. 150 di Dio, venendo con puntualità all' hora che gli comandava, come di già ha dichiarato nell' articolo quadragesimo [Witness V of the process of 1678. Ibid., p. 159, §15.]. E sà ancora nella medesima forma, che rese mansueto un toro assai fiero, come se fusse un agnello assai domestico [Witness XI of the process of 1660. Ibid., p. 156, §2.], e che faceva che i cani, gatti e topi, che sono di natura contraria, mangiassero assieme senz' offendersi gl'uni e gl'altri, dicendogli che, se alcuno offendesse l'altro, non haverebbe partecipato del mangiare. E perciò è constante opinione, che mai contesero in presenza del detto servo di Dio [Witness XIX of the process of 1678. Ibid., p. 163, §30.]. E sà ancora nella forma riferita, che essendo andato il detto servo di Dio ad una tenuta chiamata Limatambo, che è del convento principale del suo ordine di questa città, la quale sta una lega distante da essa, piantò alcuni rami ò tronchi di olivo, li quali da un giorno all' altro comparivano fioriti, dando contrasegni che già erano radicati in terra. Ed in pochissimi giorni ne piantò con le sue medesime mani un pezzo assai grande, quale si conserva fino ad hoggi con il nome di oliveto di Frà Martino de Porres. Il quale è stato ed è di grandissimo bene e giovamento per la religione, perchè da copiosissimo frutto d'olio, sì per il necessario de' religiosi come per vendersene. E con il suo retratto se ne aiuta la religione f. 150v per il sostento della comitiva [Witness XXX of the process of 1660; witnesses V, VII of the process of 1678. Ibid., pp. 312–13, §§1, 3–8.].
[As to the eighty-second of the said articles, this witness said that he knows, in the form related in the immediately preceding ones, that God our Lord honored his said servant Fra Martin de Porres with the testimony of many miracles, truly great, which he worked through his intercession when he was alive, because brutes and wild beasts of untamed and fierce nature obeyed him and became gentle at the command of his voice, as was attested by the case of the turkey (which they say in some place of this process is a bird of fierce nature), which was brought to come each day to the garden of the convent so that the said servant of God might treat it, coming punctually at the hour which he commanded it, as he has already declared in the fortieth article. And he knows also in the same form that he made a very fierce bull gentle, as if it were a very tame lamb, and that he made dogs, cats and mice, which are of contrary nature, eat together without harming one another, telling them that if any one harmed another it would not share in the food. And therefore it is a constant opinion that they never fought in the presence of the said servant of God. And he knows also in the form related that, the said servant of God having gone to an estate called Limatambo, which belongs to the principal convent of his order in this city, and which is a league distant from it, he planted some branches or cuttings of olive, which from one day to the next appeared in flower, giving signs that they were already rooted in the earth. And in very few days he planted with his own hands a very large piece of ground with them, which is preserved to this day under the name of the olive grove of Fra Martin de Porres. Which has been and is of the greatest good and benefit to the religious house, because it gives a most copious yield of oil, both for the needs of the religious and for sale. And with its proceeds the house is helped for the sustenance of the community.]
[49] In quanto all'ottuagesimo terzo de' detti articoli disse questo testimonio che sà per haverlo udito dire generalmente da ogni genere di persone per publico, e notorio, costante, e certa verità, che Iddio Nostro Signore, and after death. in credito e comprova delle virtù e santità del detto suo servo Frà Martino de Porres, si è degnato di fare molti miracoli e cose prodigiose, mediante il suo patrocinio e intercessione con le sue reliquie, ritratti, e stampe della sua effigie, e terra della sua sepoltura, quali riferirà quelli che si ricordarà. To the witness Juan Parra E tiene per miracolo ciò che successe con Gio. Vasquez Parra, il quale stiede nella cella del detto servo di Dio per tempo di più di trè anni, doppo immediatamente che venne dai Regni di Spagna; ed entrò in questa città assai povero e senza protezzione, e la trovò nella pietà del detto servo di Dio Frà Martino, col quale successe il caso seguente. Havendo dichiarato nella prima informazione fatta con autorità dell' ordinario per rimettersi alla Sagra Congregazione de' Riti, si scordò di molte particolarità, che importavano al felice successo della causa. he appeared and spoke to him. Gli comparve un giorno il detto servo di Dio Frà Martino, e gli disse che andasse al suo convento, f. 151 e dichiarasse quanto sapeva. Ed havendo fatto proposito il detto Gio. Vasquez di subito obbedirlo, ciò non ostante, doppo naturalmente se ne scordò. E passati molti giorni tornò à comparirgli il detto servo di Dio sotto il choro, e lo riprese della dimenticanza che haveva havuta, e tornò à dire che andasse e dichiarasse quanto sapeva. E andando il detto Giovanni Vasquez al convento, dichiarò quanto si ricordò per allora avanti il P. Presentato Frà Francesco Fernandez, Notaro Apostolico ad negotium ordinis. Et il dichiarare in questa forma fù, perchè già si erano rimesse alla Curia Romana le prime informazioni fatte dall' ordinario [The same was related succinctly on the 5th of September 1679 by Ferdinandez de Valdez O.P. (Ms. X, 465, f. 129), whose authority we have frequently employed in the annotations. This second declaration of Juan Vásquez Parra, somewhat longer than the first, and from which Bernardo de Medina transferred many things into his deposition, was made on the 2nd of June 1671. It is read in the manuscript process, volume marked X, 465, f. 129v–148v.].
[As to the eighty-third of the said articles, this witness said that he knows, from having heard it said generally by every kind of person, as public and notorious, constant and certain truth, that God our Lord, in credit and proof of the virtues and holiness of his said servant Fra Martin de Porres, has deigned to work many miracles and prodigious things through his patronage and intercession, with his relics, portraits and prints of his likeness, and earth from his grave, of which he will relate those which he remembers. And he holds for a miracle what happened with Juan Vásquez Parra, who stayed in the cell of the said servant of God for a time of more than three years, immediately after he came from the Kingdoms of Spain; and he came into this city very poor and without protection, and found it in the loving-kindness of the said servant of God Fra Martin, with whom the following case happened. Having made his declaration in the first information made by authority of the ordinary to be sent to the Sacred Congregation of Rites, he forgot many particulars which were of importance to the happy outcome of the cause. One day the said servant of God Fra Martin appeared to him and told him to go to his convent and declare what he knew. And the said Juan Vásquez having resolved to obey him at once, nevertheless afterwards he naturally forgot it. And after many days had passed, the said servant of God appeared to him again under the choir, and rebuked him for the forgetfulness he had shown, and said again that he should go and declare what he knew. And the said Juan Vásquez, going to the convent, declared what he remembered at that time before Fr. Presentado Fra Francisco Fernández, Apostolic Notary ad negotium ordinis. And the declaring in this form was because the first informations made by the ordinary had already been sent to the Roman Curia.]
[50] Di più dice questo testimonio che il P. Presentato Frà Antonio Gioseppe de Pastrana del suo medesimo ordine He was the 117th witness of the process of 1678. gli riferì in un occasione, come in casa di Donna Luigia de Sabala abitante di questa città, essendogli appigliato il fuoco ad un altarino che haveva alla testiera del letto, dove haveva un imagine di Nostro Signor Giesù Cristo Crocefisso, He preserves sacred images from fire, e posta una candela accesa avanti la santa imagine un venardi al mezzo giorno, essendosi abbruggiato quanto era nell' altare, andava avanzandosi il fuoco al padiglione che haveva nel letto. E restorono solamente libere dalle fiamme la santa imagine di Nostro Signor Giesù Cristo, ed una stampa di carta dell' effigie f. 151v del detto servo di Dio Frà Martino, che stava nel medesimo altare inchiodata, essendo materia sì lieve e soggetta al fuoco, ed essendosi abbrugiata la muraglia che restò abbroscita in contrasegno e testimonio della violenza dell' incendio grande, che fù. E lo tenne per miracolo la detta Donna Luigia, e per tale lo riferì il detto P. Presentato à questo testimonio, il quale ancora lo tenne per caso miracoloso, l'essersi liberata dal fuoco la detta stampa.
[Moreover this witness says that Fr. Presentado Fra Antonio José de Pastrana of his own order related to him on one occasion how, in the house of Doña Luisa de Sabala, an inhabitant of this city, fire having caught a little altar which she had at the head of her bed, where she had an image of Our Lord Jesus Christ Crucified, a lighted candle having been placed before the holy image on a Friday at midday, and everything that was on the altar having been burned, the fire was advancing to the canopy which she had on the bed. And there remained free from the flames only the holy image of Our Lord Jesus Christ and a paper print of the likeness of the said servant of God Fra Martin, which was nailed on the same altar, though it was material so light and subject to fire, and the wall had been burned, which remained scorched in sign and testimony of the violence of the great fire that there was. And the said Doña Luisa held it for a miracle, and as such the said Fr. Presentado related it to this witness, who also held it for a miraculous case that the said print had been freed from the fire.]
[51] Di più dice questo testimonio che Donna Graziana Farfan de los Godos, he heals a woman in childbed, moglie legitima di Francesco de Saldivar, tenente e corriero maggiore di questi regni, gli riferì come, essendo stata la detta sua moglie più di quaranta giorni in un cattivo parto con le secondine nel corpo, senza che remedio alcuno dei molti che gli fecero gli giovasse à farle gettar fuori, e perciò stiede in un continuo grido, con grandissime febri, che la tenevano totalmente abbattuta. E giunse l'infermità ad esser sì grave, che il Dr D. Francesco Ramirez, medico che la medicava, vedendola sì disperata di salute, la diede per spedita. Et in questo conflitto gli posero una reliquia del servo di Dio Frà Martino de Porres; et essendosi raccomandato con vero cuore al suo patrocinio, nel medesimo punto che gli la f. 152 posero, gettò imputridite le secondine con un puzzo assai pestilente. E che la detta Donna Graziana, e suo marito, e tutta la gente di casa sua conobbero essere stato miracolo operato da Dio Nostro Signore per intercessione del detto suo servo Frà Martino de Porres. E gli disse ancora la detta Donna Graziana, che lo haveva riferito molte volte sì à persone ecclesiastiche come secolari; e quante lo hanno udito lo hanno tenuto per tale. E questo testimonio dal punto che l'udì, ha sentito e detto essere stato miracolo evidente, e per tale lo ha riferito in varie occasioni [This healing is listed in the catalogue of miracles as the thirteenth miracle. Summarium, p. 364.].
[Moreover this witness says that Doña Graciana Farfán de los Godos, lawful wife of Francisco de Saldívar, lieutenant and chief courier of these kingdoms, related to him how, the said his wife having been more than forty days in a bad childbirth with the afterbirth in her body, without any remedy of the many that they applied availing to make her expel it, and therefore she was in a continual outcry, with very high fevers, which kept her entirely prostrate. And the illness came to be so grave that Dr. Don Francisco Ramírez, the physician who was treating her, seeing her so despaired of health, gave her up. And in this crisis they put on her a relic of the servant of God Fra Martin de Porres; and, she having commended herself with a true heart to his patronage, at the very moment that they put it on her she expelled the putrefied afterbirth with a very pestilent stench. And that the said Doña Graciana, and her husband, and all the people of her house recognized that it had been a miracle worked by God our Lord through the intercession of his said servant Fra Martin de Porres. And the said Doña Graciana also told him that she had related it many times both to ecclesiastical and to secular persons; and all who have heard it have held it for such. And this witness, from the moment he heard it, has felt and said that it was an evident miracle, and as such has related it on various occasions.]
[52] [he brings it about that apostolic letters of the highest importance do not perish in shipwreck] Di più dice che il R. P. Maestro Frà Lorenzo Munoz religioso del suo sagro ordine disse à questo testimonio come venendo dalla corte Romana à questa città, nel mare del Norte si perse la nave, nella quale veniva imbarcato. E portava seco il rotulo e lettere apostoliche per fare queste informationi del servo di Dio Frà Martino de Porres. E quante carte portava, tutte se gli bagnorono e se gli rovinorono, di tal forma che niuna potè servire. E solo il detto rotulo e lettere apostoliche si conservorono bene e sane, tanto che non compariva haver havuto un tal naufragio. Il che lo riferì il detto P. Maestro à questo testimonio per miracolo, e quanti venivano nel detto imbarco lo tennero per tale, e questo
[Moreover he says that the Rev. Fr. Master Fra Lorenzo Muñoz, a religious of his sacred order, told this witness how, while he was coming from the Roman court to this city, the ship in which he was embarked was lost in the North Sea. And he was carrying with him the roll and apostolic letters for making these informations about the servant of God Fra Martin de Porres. And all the papers he was carrying were soaked and ruined, so that none could be of use. And only the said roll and apostolic letters were preserved well and sound, so much so that they did not appear to have undergone such a shipwreck. Which the said Fr. Master related to this witness as a miracle, and all who were in the said voyage held it for such, and this]
f. 152v testimonio ancora, dal punto che udì le circostanze riferite le ha tenuto e tiene parimente per tale, e quanti hanno havuto notizia del caso hanno detto il medesimo.
[witness too, from the moment he heard the circumstances related, has held and likewise holds it for such, and all who have had knowledge of the case have said the same.]
[53] [and he restored hearing to the mother of the witness himself, who was entirely deaf.] Di più dice che essendo stata sorda la madre di questo testimonio per tempo di quattr' anni, di tal sorte che, quantumque assai alto e vicino gli parlassero, non udiva parola alcuna; et essendo giunto il tempo nel quale questo testimonio terminò di comporre il libro della vita del ven. servo di Dio Frà Martino de Porres, il primo che escì legato dalla stamparia lo mandò alla detta sua madre, acciò che in casa sua le sorelle e nepoti di questo testimonio lo leggessero. E prendendolo una delle dette sue nepoti, lo pose vicino alla sua ava e madre di questo testimonio e lo comincio à leggere. E leggendolo lo sentiva, e se gli levò totalmente la sordità, di tal forma che da quel punto restò totalmente sana e perfetta nell' udito, senza tornare à patire difetto alcuno, benche minimo, conoscendo la madre di questo testimonio, e Donna Eugenia, e Donna Giovanna, e Donna Grazia de Medina, sorelle di questo testimonio, e le sue nepoti, essere stato miracolo ciò che vedevano, che haveva fatto Iddio Nostro Signore per intercessione del detto suo servo Frà Martino. E per f. 153 tale lo ha tenuto e tiene questo testimonio fin da quando gli lo riferirono, tenendo per certo che l'haveva fatto in corrispondenza della buona volontà e puntualità con la quale assistè per haver notizia della sua prodigiosa vita, e per mezzo di persone fide digne, e con molte carte che riconobbe, nelle quali si parlava della sua santità e virtù, gl' ottenne da Dio Nostro Signore la salute perfetta e totale della detta sua madre. E questo successo lo ha riferito molte volte à religiosi del suo ordine ed à altri estranei, persone secolari; e quanti lo hanno udito lo tengono per miracolo.
[Moreover he says that the mother of this witness having been deaf for a period of four years, in such a way that, however loudly and closely they spoke to her, she heard no word; and the time having come in which this witness finished composing the book of the life of the venerable servant of God Fra Martin de Porres, the first copy that came out bound from the press he sent to his said mother, so that in her house the sisters and nieces of this witness might read it. And one of his said nieces, taking it, placed herself near her grandmother, the mother of this witness, and began to read it. And as she read it, she heard it, and the deafness was taken from her entirely, in such a way that from that moment she remained entirely sound and perfect in hearing, without again suffering any defect, however slight, the mother of this witness, and Doña Eugenia, and Doña Juana, and Doña Gracia de Medina, sisters of this witness, and his nieces recognizing that what they saw was a miracle which God our Lord had worked through the intercession of his said servant Fra Martin. And as such this witness has held and holds it ever since they related it to him, holding for certain that he had done it in return for the good will and punctuality with which he applied himself to obtain knowledge of his prodigious life, both by means of trustworthy persons and with many papers, which he examined, in which his holiness and virtue were spoken of, and obtained for him from God our Lord the perfect and total health of his said mother. And this event he has related many times to religious of his order and to other outsiders, secular persons; and all who have heard it hold it for a miracle.]
[54] [The earth of the grave, although it is continually taken away by the faithful, nevertheless never decreases.] Di più dice questo testimonio che tiene per miracolo continuato ciò che succede con la sepoltura, che fù del detto servo di Dio Frà Martino de Porres, la quale stà nella sala del capitolo del suo convento. Perchè cavando dalla detta sepoltura gran quantità di terra, sì per i fideli di questa città che la dimandano per servirsi di essa nei loro bisogni e infermità, come per portarla à differenti parti di questo Regno; — e al parere di questo testimonio, è stata tanta, quella che si è cavata, che se ne poteva fabricare una casa; — e con tutto ciò la sepolturà sta di tal forma, che non pare che ne sia cavata niente The first miracle. Ibid., p. 358.. E questo ammira, f. 135v pondera e celebra questo testimonio, quante volte entra nella detta sala del capitolo, nella quale sà che fù sotterrato il detto servo di Dio sotto terra, com di già ha detto, e che da questo luogo si trasferì il suo venerabile corpo alla capella del Santo Cristo dell' infermaria dove hoggi è sotto terra. E che nell' una e l'altra sepoltura è stato e stà senza culto ò venerazione alcuna, perchè si sono osservati con attenzione grande li decreti della Santità di Urbano ottavo circa il non culto.
[Moreover this witness says that he holds for a continuing miracle what happens with the grave which was that of the said servant of God Fra Martin de Porres, which is in the chapter hall of his convent. Because a great quantity of earth is being dug from the said grave, both for the faithful of this city, who ask for it to make use of it in their needs and infirmities, and to carry it to different parts of this Kingdom; — and in the opinion of this witness, so much has been dug out that a house could have been built with it; — and with all that the grave is in such a state that it does not seem that anything has been dug from it. And this witness wonders at this, ponders it and celebrates it as often as he enters the said chapter hall, in which he knows that the said servant of God was buried under the ground, as he has already said, and that from this place his venerable body was transferred to the chapel of the Holy Christ of the infirmary, where it is today under the ground. And that in both the one and the other grave he has been and is without any cult or veneration, because the decrees of His Holiness Urban the Eighth concerning non-cult have been observed with great attention.]
[55] Mention is repeated of the dog called back to life. Di più dice questo testimonio che riproduce in questo luogo per miracolo, ciò che di già ha dichiarato nell' articolo quadragesimo del cane che fece ammazzare il procuratore della cucina del suo convento, quale portavano strascinando per gettarlo in una chiavica, secondo in esso ha dichiarato con tutte le sue circostanze Cf. above, p. 120, n. 29.. Il che fù ed è verità.
[Moreover this witness says that he reproduces in this place as a miracle what he has already declared in the fortieth article about the dog which the procurator of the kitchen of his convent had killed, which they were dragging along to throw into a sewer, as he has declared in it with all its circumstances. Which was and is the truth.]