Several stories about Juniper in the Little Flowers of St. Francis illustrate his exasperating generosity. Once Juniper was taking care of a sick man who had a craving to eat pig’s feet. This helpful friar went to a nearby field, captured a pig and cut off one foot, and then served this meal to the sick man. The owner of the pig was furious and immediately went to Juniper’s superior. When Juniper saw his mistake, he apologized profusely. He also ended up talking this angry man into donating the rest of the pig to the friars !
Another time Juniper had been commanded to quit giving part of his clothing to the half-naked people he met on the road. Desiring to obey his superior, Juniper once told a man in need that he couldn’t give the man his tunic, but he wouldn’t prevent the man from taking it either. In time, the friars learned not to leave anything lying around, for Juniper would probably give it away. He died in 1258 and is buried at Ara Coeli Church in Rome.
SOURCE : http://www.ucatholic.com/saints/brother-juniper/
If anything, Brother Juniper, who was one of St. Francis of Assissi's original followers, is known for being one of the most outrageous "holy fools" in the history of Christianity. He famously cut the foot off a farmer's pig when a sick brother admitted a craving for pig's foot soup, then avoided the farmer's wrath by his innocence and humility. He was also known for having little respect for private property: if a beggar asked him for something he did not have, he would return to the friary and pick up anything he found lying around, whether it was his or not.
Juniper was certainly a curious saint. And what, after all, does he have to do with peace? The many humorous stories about Brother Juniper which are recorded in the Little Flowers of St. Francis reveal a continuous theme of how Christian boldness offends, but Christian humility leads to reconciliation.
One illustration of this is the story of the beggar and the altar cloth. The Franciscans' sacristan, wanting a break, left Juniper to keep on eye on a richly adorned altar cloth while he went to get a bite to eat. While the sacristan was gone, a woman approached Juniper and asked him for money. Since Juniper had no money, he cut the front of the cloth off and gave it to the woman. When the sacristan discovered this, he brought Juniper before their religious superior so he could be disciplined. The superior yelled at Juniper for so long that his voice became hoarse. Juniper felt sorry for the superior's throat, and so he cooked a pudding in the middle of the night and woke his superior to give it to him. When the superior said that by no means would he eat a pudding in the middle of the night, Juniper asked if the superior would hold a candle so that he could eat it himself, as he didn't want it to go to waste! Touched by Juniper's innocence, the superior lit a candle and shared a meal with Juniper.
We have so much to learn about reconciliation through Juniper's radical humility and his joyful simplicity, which at first infuriated but finally transformed the people he met.
Brother Juniper, pray for us!
Profile
Franciscan friar, received into
the order by Francis himself.
Established Franciscan missions in
several locations. Arriving in Rome after
a long journey, Juniper encountered people who had heard of his sanctity, and
had come to see him. Alarmed at this reception, Juniper escaped to a nearby
see-saw where he played with the children till
the sight-seers decided that he was an idiot and left disgusted; he then
continued to the convent. Once he
cared for a sick man
who craved a meal of pig‘s
feet. Juniper captured a pig in
a nearby field, cut off a foot, and cooked it
for the sick man.
When pig‘s
owner found this, he angrily went to Juniper’s superior. Juniper apologized so
profusely, he talked the farmer into
donating the pig.
1258 of
natural causes
buried at
Ara Coeli Church at Rome, Italy
Additional Information
books
Book of Saints, by the Monks of
Ramsgate
Our Sunday Visitor’s Encyclopedia of Saints
other sites in english
Readings
Would to God, my brothers, I had a whole forest of
such Junipers. – Saint Francis
of Assisi
A perfect friar would have “the patience of Brother
Juniper, who attained the state of perfect patience because he kept the truth
of his low estate constantly in mind, whose supreme desire was to follow Christ
on the way of the cross….” – Saint Francis
of Assisi
MLA Citation
“Saint Juniper“. CatholicSaints.Info. 24 October
2018. Web. 4 August 2021. <https://catholicsaints.info/saint-juniper/>
SOURCE : https://catholicsaints.info/saint-juniper/
CHAPTER I
HOW BROTHER JUNIPER CUT OFF THE FOOT OF A PIG TO GIVE
IT TO A SICK BROTHER
One of the most chosen disciples and first companions
of Saint Francis was Brother Juniper, a man of profound humility and of great
fervour and charity, of whom Saint Francis once said, when speaking of him to
some of his companions: “He would be a good Friar Minor who had overcome the
world as perfectly as Brother Juniper.” Once when he was visiting a sick
brother at Saint Mary of the Angels, he said to him, as if all on fire with the
charity of God: “Can I do thee any service?” And the sick man answered: “Thou
wouldst give me great consolation if thou couldst get me a pig’s foot to eat.”
Brother Juniper answered immediately: “Leave it to me; thou shalt have one at
once.” So he went and took a knife from the kitchen, and in fervour of spirit
went into the forest, where many swine were feeding, and having caught one, he
cut off one of its feet and ran off with it, leaving the swine with its foot
cut off; and coming back to the convent, he carefully washed the foot, and
diligently prepared and cooked it. Then he brought it with great charity to the
sick man, who ate it with avidity; and Brother Juniper was filled with joy and
consolation, and related the history of his assault upon the swine for his
diversion. Meanwhile, the swineherd who had seen the brother cut off the foot,
went and told the tale in order, and with great bitterness, to his lord, who,
being informed of the fact, came to the convent and abused the friars, calling
them hypocrites, deceiver, robbers, and evil men. “Why,” said he, “have you cut
off the foot of my swine?” At the noise which he made, Saint Francis and all
the friars came together, and with all humility made excuses for their brother,
and, as ignorant of the fact, promised, in order to appease the angry man, to
make amends for the wrong which had been done to him. But he was not to be
appeased, and left Saint Francis with many threats and reproaches, repeating
over and over again that they had maliciously cut the foot off his swine,
refusing to accept any excuse or promise of repayment; and so departed in great
wrath. And as all the other friars wondered: “Can Brother Juniper indeed have
done this through indiscreet zeal?” So he sent for him, and asked him
privately: “Hast thou cut off the foot of a swine in the forest?” To which Father
Juniper answered quite joyfully, not as one who has committed a fault, but
believing he had done a great act of charity: “It is true, sweet Father, that I
did cut off that swine’s foot; and if thou wilt listen compassionately, I will
tell thee the reason. I went out of charity to visit the brother who is sick.”
And so he related the matter in order, adding: “I tell thee, dear father, that
this foot did the sick brother so much good, that if I had cut off the feet of
a hundred swine instead of one, I verily believe that God would have been
pleased therewith.” To whom Saint Francis, in great zeal for justice, and in
much bitterness of heart, made answer: “O Brother Juniper, wherefore hast thou
given this great scandal? Not without reason doth this man complain, and thus
rage against us; perhaps even now he is going about the city spreading this
evil report of us, and with good cause. Therefore I command thee by holy
obedience, that thou go after him until thou find him, and cast thyself
prostrate before him, confessing thy fault, and promising to make such full
satisfaction that he shall have no more reason to complain of us, for this is
indeed a most grievous offence.” At these words Brother Juniper was much
amazed, wondering that any one should have been angered at so charitable an
action, for all temporal things appeared to him of no value, save in so far as
they could be charitably applied to the service of our neighbour. So he made
answer: “Doubt not, Father, but that I shall soon content and satisfy him. And
why should there be all this disturbance, seeing that the swine was rather
God’s than his, and that it furnished the means for an act of charity?” And so
he went his way, and coming to the man, who was still chafing and past all
patience, he told him for what reason he had cut off the pig’s foot, and all
with such fervour, exultation and joy, as if he were telling him of some great
benefit he had done him which deserved to be highly rewarded. The man grew more
and more furious at his discourse, and loaded him with much abuse, calling him
a fantastical fool and a wicked thief. Brother Juniper, who delighted in
insults, cared nothing for all this abuse, but marvelling that any one should
be wrath at what seemed to him only a matter of rejoicing, he thought he had
not made himself well understood, and so repeated the story all over again, and
then flung himself on the man’s neck and embraced him, telling him that all had
been done out of charity, and inciting and begging him for the same motive to
give the rest of the swine also; and all this with so much charity, simplicity,
and humility, that the man’s heart was changed within him, and he threw himself
at Brothers Juniper’s feet, acknowledging with many tears the injuries which by
word and deed he had done to him and his brethren. Then he went and killed the
swine, and having cut it up, he brought it, with many tears and great devotion,
to Saint Mary of the Angels, and gave it to those holy friars in compensation
for the injury he had done them. Then Saint Francis, considering the simplicity
and patience under adversity of this good Brother Juniper, said to his
companions and those who stood by: “Would to God, my brethren, that I had a
forest of such Junipers!”
CHAPTER II
AN INSTANCE OF BROTHER JUNIPER’S GREAT POWER AGAINST
THE DEVIL
The devils could not endure the purity of Brother
Juniper’s innocence and his profound humility, as appears in the following
example: A certain demoniac one day fled in an unaccustomed manner, and through
devious paths, seven miles from his home. When his parents, who had followed
him in great distress of mind, at last overtook him, they asked him why he had
fled in this strange way. The demoniac answered: “Because that fool Juniper was
coming this way. I could not endure his presence, and therefore, rather than
wait his coming, I fled away through these woods.” And on inquiring into the
truth of these words, they found that Brother Juniper had indeed arrived at the
time the devil had said. Therefore when demoniacs were brought to Saint Francis
to be healed, if the evil spirit did not immediately depart at his command, he
was wont to say: “Unless thou dost instantly leave this creature, I will bring
Brother Juniper to thee.” Then the devil, fearing the presence of Brother
Juniper, and being unable to endure the virtue and humility of Saint Francis,
would forthwith depart.
CHAPTER III
HOW, BY THE CONTRIVANCE OF THE DEVIL, BROTHER JUNIPER
WAS CONDEMNED TO THE GALLOWS
Once upon a time the devil, desiring to terrify
Brother Juniper, and to raise up scandal and tribulation against him, betook
himself to a most cruel tyrant, named Nicholas, who was then at war with the
city of Viterbo, and said to him: “My lord, take heed to watch your castle
well, for a vile traitor will come here shortly from Viterbo to kill you and
set fire to your castle. And by this sign you shall know him: he will come in
the guise of a poor beggar, with his clothes all tattered and patched, and a
torn hood falling on his shoulders, and he will carry with him an awl, wherewith
to kill you, and a flint and steel wherewith to set fire to the castle; and if
you find not my words to be true, punish me as you will.” At these words
Nicholas was seized with great terror, believing the speaker to be a person
worthy of credit; and he commanded a strict watch to be kept, and that if such
a person would present himself he should be brought before him forthwith.
Presently Brother Juniper arrived alone; for, because of his great perfection,
he was allowed to travel without a companion as he pleased.
On this there went to meet him certain wild young men,
who began to mock him, treating him with great contempt and indignity. And
Brother Juniper was no way troubled thereat, but rather incited them to
ill-treat him more and more. And as they came to the castle-gate, the guards
seeing him thus disfigured, with his scanty habit torn in two – for he had
given half of it on the way to a begger, for the love of God, so that he had no
longer the appearance of a Friar Minor – recognizing the signs given of the
expected murderer, they dragged him with great fury before the tyrant Nicholas.
They searched him to find whether he had any offensive weapons, and found in
his sleeve an awl, which he used to mend his sandals, and also a flint and
steel which he carried with him to strike a light when he abode, as he often
did, in the woods or in desert places. Nicholas, seeing the signs given by the
devil, commanded that a cord should be fastened round his neck, which was done
with so great cruelty that it entered into the flesh. He was then most cruelly
scourged; and being asked who he was, he replied: “I am a great sinner.” When
asked whether he wanted to betray the castle to the men of Viterbo, he
answered: “I am a great traitor, and unworthy of any mercy.” Being questioned
whether he intended to kill the tyrant Nicholas with that awl, and to burn the
castle, he replied that he should do greater things than these, should God
permit him. This Nicholas then, being wholly mastered by his fury, would
examine no further, but without delay condemned Brother Juniper, as a traitor
and murderer, to be fastened to a horse’s tail, and so dragged on the ground to
the gallows, there to be forthwith hanged by the neck. And Brother Juniper made
no excuse for himself, but, as one who joys to suffer for the love of God, he
was full of contentment and rejoicing. So the command of the tyrant was carried
into effect. Brother Juniper was tied by the feet to the horse’s tail, and
dragged along the ground, making no complaint, but, like a meek lamb led to the
slaughter, he submitted with all humility. At this spectacle of prompt justice,
all the people ran together to behold the execution of so hasty and cruel a
judgment, but no one knew the culprit. Nevertheless it befell, by the will of
God, that a good man, who had seen Brother Juniper taken and sentenced
forthwith, ran to the house of the Friars Minor, and said: “I pray you, for the
love of God, to come with me at once, for a poor man has been seized and
immediately condemned and led to death. Come, that he may at least place his
soul in your hands, for he seems to me a good man, and he has had no time to
make his confession; even now they are leading him to the gallows, yet he seems
to have no fear of death nor care of his soul. Oh, be pleased to come quickly!”
Then the guardian, who was a compassionate man, went at once to provide for the
salvation of this soul; and when he came to the place of execution, he could
not get near for the crowd; but, as he stood watching for an opening, he heard
a voice say: “Do not so, do not so, cruel men; you are hurting my legs!” And as
he recognised the voice of Brother Juniper, the guardian, in fervour of spirit,
forced his way through the crowd, and tearing the bandage from the face of the
condemned, he saw that it was indeed Brother Juniper, who looked upon him with
a cheerful and smiling countenance. Then the guardian with many tears besought
the executioners and all the people for pity to wait a little space, till he
should go and beseech the tyrant to have mercy on Brother Juniper. The
executioners promised to wait a few moments, believing, no doubt, that he was
some kinsman of the prisoner. So the devout and pious guardian went to the
tyrant Nicholas, weeping bitterly, and said: “My lord, I am so filled with
grief and amazement that my tongue can scarcely utter it, for it seems to me
that in this our land has been committed today the greatest sin and the
greatest evil which has been wrought from the days of our fathers even until
now, and I believe that it has been done through ignorance.” Nicholas heard the
guardian patiently, and inquired: “What is this great sin and evil which has
been committed today in this land?” And the guardian answered: “It is this, my
lord, that you have condemned – and, as I assuredly believe, unjustly – to a
most cruel punishment one of the holiest friars at this time in the Order of
Saint Francis, to whom you profess a singular devotion.” Then said Nicholas:
“Now tell me, father guardian, who is he; for perhaps, knowing him not, I have
committed a great fault?” “He,” said the guardian, “whom you have condemned to
death is Brother Juniper, the companion of Saint Francis.” Then was the tyrant
amazed, for he had heard the fame of Brother Juniper’s sanctity; and, pale with
fear, he hastened together with the guardian to Brother Juniper, and loosed him
from the horse’s tail and set him free, and in the presence of all the people
he prostrated himself on the ground before Brother Juniper, and with many tears
confessed his fault, and the cruelty of which he had been guilty towards that
holy friar; adding: “I believe indeed that the days of my wicked life are
numbered, since I have thus without reason cruelly tortured so holy a man. For,
in punishment of my evil life, God will send me in a few days an evil death,
though this thing I did ignorantly.” Then Brother Juniper freely forgave the
tyrant Nicholas: but a few days afterwards God permitted a most cruel death to
overtake him. And so Brother Juniper departed, leaving all the people greatly
edified.
CHAPTER IV
HOW BROTHER JUNIPER GAVE ALL THAT HE HAD TO THE POOR
FOR THE LOVE OF GOD
Brother Juniper was so full of pity and compassion for
the poor, that when he saw anyone poor or naked he immediately took off his
tunic, or the hood of his clock, and gave it to him. The guardian therefore
laid an obedience upon him not to give away his tunic or any part of his habit.
A few days afterwards, a poor half-naked man asked an alms of Brother Juniper
for the love of God, who answered him with great compassion: “I have nothing
which I could give thee but my tunic, and my superior has laid me under
obedience not to give it, nor any part of my habit, to anyone. But if thou take
it off my back I will not resist thee.” He did not speak to a deaf man; for the
begger forthwith stripped him of his tunic, and went off with it. When Brother
Juniper returned home, and was asked what had become of his tunic, he replied:
“A good man took it off my back, and went away with it.” And as the virtue of
compassion increased in him, he was not contented with giving his tunic, but
would give books, or clocks, or whatever he could lay his hands on, to the
poor. For this reason the brethren took care to leave nothing in the common
rooms of the convent, because Brother Juniper gave away everything for the love
of God and to the glory of his name.
CHAPTER V
HOW BROTHER JUNIPER TOOK CERTAIN LITTLE BELLS FROM THE
ALTAR, AND GAVE THEM AWAY FOR THE LOVE OF GOD
One Christmas-day Brother Juniper was in deep
meditation before the altar at Scesi, the which altar was right fairly and
richly adorned; so, at the desire of the sacristan, Brother Juniper remained to
keep guard over it while he went to his dinner. And as he was absorbed in
devout meditations, a poor woman came asking an alms of him for the love of
God. To whom Brother Juniper made answer: “Wait a while, and I will see if I
can find anything for thee on this grand altar.” Now there was upon the altar
an exceedingly rich and costly frontal of cloth of gold, with silver bells of
great value. “These bells,” said Brother Juniper, “are a superfluity”; so he
took a knife and cut them off the frontal, and gave them to the poor woman out
of compassion. The sacristan, after he had eaten three or four mouthfuls,
bethought him of the ways of Brother Juniper, whom he had left in charge; and
began exceedingly to doubt whether, in his charitable zeal, he might not do
some damage to the costly altar. As soon as the suspicion entered his head, he
rose from the table, and went back to the church, to see if any of the
ornaments of the altar had been removed or taken away; and when he saw that the
frontal had been cut, and the little bells carried off, he was troubled and
scandalised beyond measure. Brother Juniper, seeing that he was very angry,
said to him: “Be not disturbed about those little bells, for I have given them
to a poor woman who had great need of them, and here they were good for nothing
but to make a pompous display of worldly vanity.” When the sacristan had heard
this, he went with all speed to seek the woman in the church, and throughout
the city; but he could neither find her nor meet with anyone who had seen her.
So he returned, and in great wrath took the frontal, and carried it to the
general, who was at Assisi, saying: “Father general, I demand justice on
Brother Juniper, who has spoilt this hanging for me, the very best I had in the
sacristy. See how he has destroyed it by cutting away all the silver bells,
which he says he has given to a poor woman!” And the general answered him: “It
is not Brother Juniper who has done this, but thine own folly; for thou
oughtest by this time to have known his ways: and I tell thee, I marvel only
that he did not give away the whole frontal. Nevertheless, I will give him a
sound correction for this fault.” And having called the brethren together in
chapter, he sent for Brother Juniper, and, in the presence of the whole
community, reproved him most severely concerning the said bells; and, waxing
wrathful as he spoke, he raised his voice till it became hoarse. Brother
Juniper cared little or nothing for these words, for he delighted in
reproaches, and rejoiced when he received a good humiliation; but his one
thought in return was to find a remedy for the general’s hoarseness. So when he
had received his reproof, he went straight to the town for flour and butter, to
make a good hasty-pudding, with which he returned when the night was far spent;
then lighting a candle, he went with his hasty-pudding to the door of the
general’s cell and knocked. The general came to open it, and seeing him with a
lighted candle and a pipkin in his hand, asked: “Who is there?” Brother Juniper
answered him: “Father, when you reproved me today for my faults, I perceived
that your voice grew hoarse, and I thought it was from over-fatigue. I
considered therefore what would be the best remedy, and have had this
hasty-pudding made for you; therefore I pray you eat of it, for I tell you that
it will ease your throat and your chest.” “What an hour of the night is this.” said
the general, “to come and disturb other people!” And Brother Juniper made
answer: “See, it has been made for you; I pray you eat of it without more ado,
for it will do you good.” But the general being angry at the lateness of the
hour, and at Brother Juniper’s persistence, answered him roughly, bidding him
go his way, for at such an hour he would not eat. Then Brother Juniper, seeing
that neither persuasions nor prayers were of any avail, said: “Father, since
you will not eat the pudding which was made for you, at least do this for me:
hold the candle for me, and I will eat it.” Then the general, being a devout
and kindly man, seeing the piety and simplicity of Brother Juniper, and how he
had done all this out of devotion, answered: “Well, since thou will have it so,
thou and I will eat together.” And so the two of them ate this hasty-pudding
together, out of an importunate charity, and were refreshed by their devotion
more than by the food.
CHAPTER VI
HOW BROTHER JUNIPER KEPT SILENCE FOR SIX MONTHS
Brother Juniper once determined with himself to keep
silence for six months together, in this manner. The first day for love of the
Eternal Father. The second for love of Jesus Christ his Son. The third for love
of the Holy Ghost. The fourth in reverence to the most holy Virgin Mary; and
proceeding thus, each day in honour of some saint, he passed six whole months
without speaking.
CHAPTER VII
HIS REMEDY FOR TEMPTATIONS OF THE FLESH
One day as Brother Giles, Brother Simon of Assisi,
Brother Ruffino, and Brother Juniper were discoursing together concerning God
and the salvation of the soul, Brother Giles said to the other brethren: “How
do you deal with temptations to impurity?” Brother Simon said: “I consider the
vileness and turpitude of the sin till I conceive and exceeding horror of it,
and so escape from the temptation.” And Brother Ruffino said: “I cast myself on
the ground, and with fervent prayer implore the mercy of God and of the Mother
of Jesus Christ till I am freed from the temptation.” And Brother Juniper
answered: “When I feel the approach of a diabolical suggestion, I run at once
and shut the door of my heart, and, to secure its safety, I occupy myself in
holy desires and devout meditations; so that when the suggestion comes and
knocks at the door of my heart, I may answer from within: ‘Begone; for the room
is already taken, and there is no space for another guest’; and so I never
suffer the thought to enter my heart; and the devil, seeing himself baffled,
retires discomfited, not from me alone, but from the whole neightbourhood.”
Then Brother Giles made answer and said: “Brother Juniper, I hold with thee;
for there is no surer way of overcoming this enemy than flight; inasmuch as he
attacks us within by means of the traitor appetite, and without through our
bodily senses; and so by flight alone can this masterful foe be overcome. And
he who resists it in any other way, after all the toil of the conflict, rarely
comes off victorious. Fly, then, from this vice, and thou shalt gain the
victory.”
CHAPTER VIII
HOW BROTHER JUNIPER MADE HIMSELF CONTEMPTIBLE FOR THE
LOVE OF GOD
Brother Juniper, desiring to make himself despicable
in the sight of men, stripped himself one day of all but his inner garment;
and, making a bundle of his habit and other clothes, he entered the city of
Viterbo, and went half-naked into the market place, in order to make himself a
laughing stock. When he got there, the boys and young men of the place,
thinking him to be out of his senses, ill-treated him in many ways, throwing
stones and mud at him, and pushing him hither and thither, with many words of
derision; and thus insulted and evil entreated, he abode there the greater part
of the day, and then went his way to the convent.
Now when the friars saw him they were full of
indignation, and chiefly because he had gone thus through the city with his
bundle on his head; wherefore they reproved and threatened him sharply. One
said: “Let us put him in prison.” Another: “He deserves to be hanged.” And
others: “He cannot be too severely punished for the scandal he has given today
in his own person, to the injury of the whole Order.” And Brother Juniper,
being full of joy, answered with all humility, “You say well indeed; for I
deserve all these punishments, and far worse than these.”
CHAPTER IX
HOW BROTHER JUNIPER, IN ORDER TO BE DESPISED, PLAYED
AT SEE-SAW
As Brother Juniper was once entering Rome, the fame of
his sanctity led many of the devout Romans to go out to meet him, but he, as
soon as he saw this number of people coming, took it into his head to turn
their devotion into sport and ridicule. So, catching sight of two children who
were playing at see-saw upon two pieces of wood, he moved one of them from his
place, and mounting on the plank in his stead, he began to see-saw with the other.
Meanwhile the people came up and marvelled much at Brother Juniper’s
see-sawing. Nevertheless they saluted him with great devotion, and waited till
he should have finished his play to accompany him honourably to the convent.
Brother Juniper took little heed of their salutation, reverence, or patient
waiting, but gave his whole attention to his see-saw. And when they had waited
thus for a long time, they began to grow tired, and to say, “What folly is
this?” Some few, who knew his ways, were moved to still greater devotion; but
at last they all departed, leaving Brother Juniper on the see-saw. When they
were gone, Brother Juniper remained full of consolation, because he saw in what
contempt they held him. Then came he down from his see-saw, and entering Rome
with all meekness and humility, came to the convent of the Friars Minor.
CHAPTER X
HOW BROTHER JUNIPER ONCE COOKED FOR THE BRETHREN
ENOUGH TO LAST FOR A FORTNIGHT
It happened once, when Brother Juniper was in a house
of the brethren, that, for some reasonable cause all the friars were obliged to
go out, and Brother Juniper alone remained at home. Then the guardian said to
him: “Brother Juniper, we are all going out, therefore, by the time we come
back, I wish thee to prepare a little food for the refreshment of thy
brethren.” “Most willingly,” replied Brother Juniper; “leave it to me.” When
all the brethren, as has been said, were gone out, Brother Juniper said to himself:
“What superfluous carefulness is this, that a brother should be lost in the
kitchen, and deprived of all opportunity for prayer! Of a surety, as I am now
left in this charge, I will cook enough to serve the brethren, were they as
many more, for a fortnight to come.”
So he went to the town and borrowed some large pots
for cooking; then he got fresh meat and salt, chickens, eggs, and vegetables;
he begged wood also, and made a great fire, upon which he set everything
together to boil: the fowls in their feathers, the eggs in their shells, and
the rest in like manner. Meanwhile one of the friars, to whom Brother Juniper’s
simplicity was well known, returned to the house; and seeing these great
cauldrons on such an enormous fire, he sat down in amazement to watch with what
care and diligence Brother Juniper proceeded in his cookery. And having
observed him for some time to his great recreation, this friar went out of the
kitchen, and told the other brethren that Brother Juniper was certainly
preparing a wedding banquet. The brethren took it for a jest; but presently
Brother Juniper took his cauldrons off the fire, and bade them ring the bell
for dinner. Then the brethren took their places at the table, and he came into
the refectory, all rubicund with his toil and with the heat of the fire, and
said to the brethren: “Eat a good dinner now, and then we will go to prayer:
and let no one thing of cooking for a long time to come, for I have cooked more
than enough to last us all for more than a fortnight.” And so saying, he set
down his hotch-potch before them; but there was never a hog in the Campagna of
Rome so hungry that he could have eaten it. Brother Juniper praised his way of
cooking because it was so great a saving of time; and seeing that the other friars
ate none of it, he said: “These fowls are good for the head; and this food will
keep the body in health, so wholesome is it.”; so that the brethren were all in
admiration at the devotion and simplicity of Brother Juniper. But the guardian,
being angry at such folly, and grieved at the waste of so much good food,
reproved Brother Juniper severely. Then Brother Juniper fell on his knees
before the guardian, and humbly confessed his fault to him and all the brethren
saying: “I am a very wicked man. Such a one committed such a sin, for which he
was condemned to lose his eyes. Such another was hanged for his crimes. But I
deserve far worse for my evil deeds. And now I have wasted so much of the gifts
of God and the substance of the Order.” And thus lamenting he departed; nor
would he come into the presence of any one of the brethren for the rest of that
day. Then said the father guardian: “My dearest brethren, I would that every
day this brother might spoil as much of our substance, if we had it, as he has
done today, were it only for the edification he has given us by the simplicity
and charity with which he has done this thing.”
CHAPTER XI
HOW BROTHER JUNIPER WENT ONE DAY TO ASSISI FOR HIS OWN
CONFUSION
Once when Brother Juniper was dwelling in the valley
of Spoleto, knowing that there was to be a great solemnity at Assisi, and that
many were resorting thither with great devotion, it came into his head to go
there also; and you shall hear in what guise he went. He stripped himself of
all but his inner garment, and thus, passing through the midst of the city of
Spoleto, he came to the convent. The brethren, much displeased and scandalised,
rebuked him sharply, calling him a fool, a madman, and a disgrace to the Order
of Saint Francis, and declaring that he ought to be put in chains as a madman.
And the general, who was then on the spot, calling all the friars together,
gave Brother Juniper a very sharp correction in the presence of them all. And,
after many words, he ended with this severe sentence: “So great and grievous is
thy fault, that I know not what sufficient penance to give thee.” Then, Brother
Juniper, answered, as one who delighted in his own confusion: “Father, I will
tell you: for penance, send me back again from this solemnity in the same garb
in which I came to it.”
CHAPTER XII
HOW BROTHER JUNIPER FELL INTO AN ECSTASY DURING THE
CELEBRATION OF MASS
As Brother Juniper was one day hearing Mass with great
devotion, he fell into an ecstasy, and so continued for a long space of time.
And when he came to himself, he said with great fervour of spirit to the other
friars: “Oh, my brethren, who is there in this world so noble that he would
disdain to carry a basket of mud all the world over, in the hope of obtaining a
house full of gold?” Then he added: “Alas, why will we not endure a little
shame to obtain life eternal?”
CHAPTER XIII
OF THE SORROW WHICH BROTHER JUNIPER FELT AT THE LOSS
OF HIS COMPANION BROTHER AMAZIALBENE
Brother Juniper had a companion named Amazialbene,
whom he loved most tenderly, and who possessed the virtues of patience and
obedience in the utmost perfection; for, when he was beaten and ill-treated on
all sides, he never complained or uttered a word of remonstrance. He was often
sent to places where he met with persons who treated him most cruelly, and he
bore it all patiently and without the least resentment. At the command of
Brother Juniper, he would laugh or weep. At last, as it pleased God to ordain,
this Brother Amazialbene died, in high reputation for sanctity; and when
Brother Juniper heard of his death, he felt greater sorrow thereat then he had
ever experienced in this life for any earthly thing. And thus did he express in
words the great bitterness of his heart, saying: “Alas, woe is me; for there is
no good left me now, and all the world is darkened to me by the death of my
sweet and most loving brother Amazialbene!” and he added: “Were it not that I
should have no peace from the brethren, I would go to his grave and take out
his head, and out of his skull I would make me two vessels; from the one I
would always eat, in memory of him, for my own devotion, and from the other I
would drink when I was thirsty.”
CHAPTER XIV
OF THE HAND WHICH BROTHER JUNIPER SAW IN THE AIR
Brother Juniper being one day in prayer, and, it may
be, proposing to himself to do great things for God, he saw a hand in the air,
and heard with his bodily ears a voice, which said thus to him: “O Brother
Juniper, with this hand thou canst do nothing.” Then he arose immediately, and
with his eyes raised to heaven, he went round the convent, repeating aloud:
“True indeed, most true indeed!” and this he repeated many times.
CHAPTER XV
HOW SAINT FRANCIS COMMANDED BROTHER LEO TO WASH THE
STONE
When Saint Francis was speaking with Brother Leo on
Mount Alvernia, he said to him: “Brother little lamb, wash this stone with
water.” Then Brother Leo went forth and washed it with water. Then said Saint
Francis, with great joy and gladness: “Wash it with wine”; and it was done.
“Wash it,” said Saint Francis again, “with oil”; and Brother Leo did so. Then
said Saint Francis: “Brother little lamb, wash this stone with balm.” And
Brother Leo answered: “O sweet father, how am I to get balm in the wilderness?”
Then Saint Francis replied: “Know, Brother little lamb, that this is the stone
on which Christ once was seated when he appeared to me in this place, and
therefore did I bid thee wash it four times, and no more, because Jesus Christ
then promised me four singular graces for my Order. The first, that all those
who shall cordially love my Order, and all the friars who shall persevere
therein, shall die a good death. The second, that those who persecute this holy
Religion shall be notably punished. The third, that no evil-doer, continuing in
his perversity, shall be able to persevere long in this Order. The fourth, that
this Religion shall endure until the day of judgment.”
SOURCE : https://catholicsaints.info/the-life-of-brother-juniper/
