On the first General Chapter gathered by Padre Ludovico in the lodge of Albacina Castle of Fabriano in the Marches

221 The canonical election 222 Convocation of the first Chapter 223 The electors 224 The Discourse of Fra Ludovico 225 The election of Superiors 226 The fervour of the first community 227 The first constitutions

(221) Our Lord shows how great and important ruling over souls is in the New and Old Testaments. As with our Lord Jesus Christ and his Apostles after his death, and as in the synagogue too for all those that had to rule and govern souls, the Lord God wanted them selected either by himself or with other means. Our Lord did not trust that this very noble office could be exercised worthily by men without a special gift and support from the Holy Spirit. This is clear when he wanted to choose the Apostles in order to give shape to the Church. He went up a mountain and persevered all night in prayer. The following day he chose twelve Apostles. He did this to have us know that it is not those who are chosen according to human favour who are good shepherds but only those who are chosen by God for such an office. So Saint Paul says it is not permissible to take up such an office except by those on whom like Aaron it has been imposed by God. Therefore God elected the Apostles. Consequently the Holy Spirit has called all those in the Church of God who have been true and Catholic Prelates. Therefore when the Apostles had to choose seven Deacons the gathered the multitude together. The whole multitude did not elect them. Rather the Apostles imposed such an office because they had received the authority from God. Therefore since antiquity it has been the practice in all the Orders that those who had to rule were chosen by election in Chapters, invoking the Holy Spirit with all their heart so that he might show to their minds those who are chosen by His Majesty. Therefore the Apostles said at the election of Matthias, “Lord show us whom you choose.” They did not say, “Give us the grace to choose a good man.” Instead they said, “Show us whom you have chosen.”

(222) Therefore this was the reason that the early Fathers and holy Founders of our Reform convened a Chapter. They had gone years without coming together for Chapter and without legitimate leaders. So when the poor fellows obtained the Bull form His Holiness by the grace of God they could breathe somewhat free from the grave persecutions that they had suffered earlier. They said to one another with loving affection, “It would be good that as soon as our Congregation is established that we should come together and hold our Chapter. For although His Holiness has given us Padre Ludovico as Head, it was imposed on him at the same time that when the Congregation reached a certain number, he should convene the Chapter.” They said, “I want willingly that the one who has rule and governance over me be elected by the Holy Spirit as is the practice in the Order.”

It pleased the Lord God that these words came to the ears of Padre Ludovico . He immediately sent for Father Matteo and some older Friars. Taking counsel among themselves as judicious men they made know to the multitude that they should come together for the General Chapter. Since the poor fellows were in the mountains of Camerino and Fabriano because of the almost constant persecutions, some of them by order of Padre Ludovico were accommodated in a hut near a little church and a tiny house. All the poor fellows gathered there.

(223) One Thursday morning Padre Ludovico said the Mass. Then they all congregated together in the hut to eat. Because there was no table some of them put their mantles on the floor. They ate some bread and fruit that the farmers had brought them. The joy of those servants of was great to se themselves so conformed to Father Saint Francis as they had desired for so long. They were so joyful also to be able to be together to eat that small amount of bread in peace that they for a good while they were not seen.

When they had finished eating Padre Ludovico gave them a beautiful sermon to inflame them to thank God for such a gift as obtaining the Bull and that His Majesty gave them the grace to eat altogether without fear. Then he made a proposal to them. “Beloved brothers you know that we are assembled to hold our General Chapter in which we will elect our Father General. We will make those few Guardians that we can and give some order to our Congregation. Because we are so few and the majority of us have come new to the Reform and there are many novices and young friars it appears to me, if it also seems to you, that we elect twelve. To them we remit all authority as twelve vocals to elect the Father General and all the others.”

Everyone was happy with this and so they elected twelve in whom all the others put and entrusted themselves. Then Padre Ludovico added, “This number twelve is very celebrated in the Sacred Scriptures. Our Lord had twelve Apostles. Because of this our Father Saint Francis also wanted twelve companions from whom our Order took its origin. Therefore because we have undertaken to imitate our Father we can be pleased to elect these twelve on who will have all authority.

And so it was done.

They elected twelve very holy men, that is, Father Matteo, Padre Ludovico , Father Paul of Chioggia, Father Rufino of Crema, Father Angelo of Sant’Angelo in Vado. I don’t remember the others. These were the principal Founders of our Congregation. It is not without mystery that these twelve holy men started it because according to what our Seraphic Father says in a prophecy a Reform will be done in the spirit of the Founder. Just as the Holy Order was begun by means of the Holy Spirit, so those servants of God who were inspired by the Holy Spirit and strengthened through many tribulations began to renew the life of our Father Saint Francis.

The true spirit of most high poverty appeared among them gathered altogether because, as was told to me, there was nothing else to eat during the entire little Chapter except bread and fruit and a cracked flask full of wine. The all drank with the same cup that had no base. They found it in that little house. Just like poor saints when they had drunk they turned the cup upside down again.

(224) Therefore very early on the Friday morning they gathered together in the little church. Padre Ludovico said the Mass of the Holy Spirit and all the others received Communion. Then they persevered in prayer for about an hour.

The Padre Ludovico began to speak about the chapter agenda. He said, “Brothers and sons in Christ. We have all gathered here in the name of the Holy Spirit. To be his servants we need to do nothing more and nothing less that what His Majesty shows us in our minds. We remember the great gift that His Majesty has deigned to grant us that we find ourselves at the very beginning of this holy Reform. So many servants of God in our Order longed for it so much. Many of them have died and have not been able to see it. However His Most high Goodness has chose us who are the simplest and the least in the whole Order so that the Reform would depend on him and not on man. You all know how much we have suffered. The early Church was persecuted for many years and it finally pleased the supreme Creator to give them peace at the time of Constantine. This is what he had done with us during the time of the Vicar of Christ, Clement VII and thanks to our blessed Virgin Mother who has prayed for us and who has helped us greatly. And the Lord God has used that beloved instrument of our Congregation the Duchess of Camerino, Caterina Cibo. By means of the Bull obtained from His Holiness we have received peace and security, the possibility to start friaries, to receive every kind of Friar, the build churches so that we may fulfil our obligations in them. Because these things could not be done unless there was someone among us who would guide us, but because the Congregation has not expanded very much it will do for now to elect the Vicar General and some Guardians.

Even though we are few in number we have prudently deputed the vote to the twelve brothers and commending ourselves to them in the name of the all the Congregation so that they may elect the one whom God inspires. Brothers it is a long time that we have slept in the woods under trees and in caves. Now let us accommodate ourselves in some little house or huts according to the form of holy poverty where we may rest under cover and say our Masses and Offices. Therefore lift your minds to the Lord and let us invoke the Holy Spirit.”

As Padre Ludovico stop it seemed that the Holy Spirit descended on those servants of God because they all began to tremble. He softened their hearts in such a way that in loud voices they began to cry profusely that for a good while they looked around at each other’s face and could not say a single word. After regaining their breath somewhat they all knelt down and invoked the Holy Spirit.

When this was concluded with the appropriate prayers, at the order of Fra Ludovico they all began to sit down. Again he spoke some words to them but neither he nor anyone else could contain their tears. Their hearts were so touched! And not without reason because when those hearts which had been purified from every earthly affection found the Holy Spirit they were filled completely with spiritual sweetness at the presence of the one whom they long since loved. For the sake of his love they had suffered many deprivations and persecutions. They found themselves now on the way and strengthened with the hope that God would give them the grace from then on to be able to observe what they had promised him in peace and every opportunity. Therefore they did not cease thanking God with their hearts. Their love was such that it kept them uplifted. They were like men estranged from earthly things that enjoyed heaven.

(225) Therefore they arrived at that point in the Chapter and elected four Definitors. The first of these was Fra Ludovico da Fossombrone. He had placed the Bull and all authority into the hands of the twelve vocals. Among themselves they intended and decided first that there would not be any Prelate in the Congregation. Therefore Padre Ludovico said, “Now I declare that the Congregation does not have any Prelate who has been elected by the Friars according to the practice in the Order. Therefore each of us who are gathered here in the name of God represent the General Chapter of all the poor Congregation, which we have restricted by common consensus to the twelve vocals.” This was the reason therefore that they elected Padre Ludovico the first Definitor. The second was Father Matteo da Bascio. The third was Father Angelus of Sant’Angelo in Vado. The fourth was Father Paul of Chioggia.

After the election of these four Reverend Fathers as Definitors they all gathered again with great devotion in the little church and invoked the Holy Spirit. Then they came to the election of the Father Vicar General. Once the tellers sat down to take the vote of each friar that simple little Chapter unanimously called Father Matteo da Bascio Vicar General. No other secret ballot was needed. He however on no account wanted to accept the burden. He claimed that God called him through the revelation he had to go preaching and that His Holiness had told him to go about preaching. “Furthermore I do not have the grace to rule the Friars but the grace to help the souls of the faithful by preaching the commandments of God to them.” Nevertheless all the others remained steadfast in their opinion and regarded the election as sound and valid. Realizing that this was the will of God he lowered his head humbly. Falling to his knees he commended himself to the Lord God in such a way that he moved everyone. He said, “My Lord Jesus Christ, I am the least of your creatures. From eternity you have known me and that I am inadequate in everything, ignorant and the vilest sinner. Yet on the other hand I wax on about how you want to steer such an important Reform to the desired port of salvation amid such powerful, numerous and contrary circumstances. Having chosen me for this office I beg you therefore that because of my sins you do not fail to take up the task of governing in me. For you know our hearts and with your firm hand can knock down and resist all the fiery blows that I see the infernal enemy is preparing to us against your sheep. Rather I ask for death rather than to be the cause of the loss of even on of the least of your sheep through my rough ways and poor rule.

When that servant of God had finished his prayer to the great satisfaction of everyone, they all sat down. Padre Ludovico gave him the seals, the first Brief and the Bull. He was the first legitimate Vicar General of the poor Capuchin Congregation and Reform. He received many Friars and holy men to the Congregation.

Then they came to the election of Fathers Guardian. The first was Padre Ludovico who was elected Guardian of the friary at Fossombrone. The place had already been started but had not yet been accommodated. For this reason he was there since he was from that town and was known by everyone. Guardians were also appointed for Camerino, Albacina the third, the fourth for Montemelone. They were all sent with their little families to those places.

(226) Once they arrived they began to officiate and to say their Masses and eat together with great joy. The joy of those poor men was so great that they felt reborn. When they rang their little bells for the Divine Office and the Mass, for many days it seemed as though their hearts melted. The joy of the seculars was great too. They came to their Masses from five or six miles away. They liked very much to hear the Masses of those holy men said slowly, with deep humility and with such devotion that they thought they were in heaven. The fame of their holiness was such that it warmed those in the main Order who desired Reform because a great disagreement came about between the spiritual Friars and the lax Friars. They talked about little else. Their fame also began to reawaken the seculars too because in all their feasts they gave sermons with great fervour to the seculars. The Father General gave permission to all of them, lay friars and priests, to be able to speak of God and direct everyone to the observance of the commandments of God. Because of this many young men converted and were received by Father Matteo. Anyone who heard them speak about God considered himself blessed because, like glowing embers, the inflamed the heart of everyone who heard them.

The fervour of those servants of God was such that apart from the needs of nature they persevered almost continuously in prayer. It was wonderful that united together they had from God the immense desire for the perfect observance of poverty that lasted many years. Rarely, if ever, did they eat anything cooked, but only bread and water and raw vegetables. Because they were accustomed to solitude they rarely conversed with one another. They had it carved in their hearts to never want to use things except by necessity. Even with pots. If there was some superfluous pot they immediately gave it away. Sometimes they went for four or five months without seeing meat. Because of this there was a common impression that the Capuchins did not eat meat. There wasn’t much in those little friaries except for habits. They wore coarse habits that were all patched which were worth no more than half a scudo. This was the norm that the whole Congregation followed inviolably.

(227) With the chapter agenda concluded and all the Guardians sent to their friars, the four Definitors and the Father General and some other older Friars stayed back together made the Constitutions. These were more heavenly than human. The Constitutions done by the Chapter gathered at Rome in 1536 are based on these. In substance they are the same but more ample. I remember two Friars of the Marches came to our friary in Foligno. They brought us the Constitutions. The joy was such that even though it was night we all came together to read those Constitutions. They appeared to us to be alight to give us the way in which we should govern ourselves. To the praise and glory of Jesus Christ. Amen.