On the first General Chapter held in Rome in the year 1536 at Saint Euphemia
339 The Holy Spirit always assists the Church 340 Consequences of the disagreement over the celebration of the Chapter 341 Padre Ludovico was moved by good zeal 342 The Chapter convoked in Rome 343 New Superiors are elected 344 Padre Ludovico contests the election 345 The Chapter is convoked again for the month of September 346 Effects of this convocation 347 Bernardine of Asti comforts the Friars who are somewhat disorientated 348 New consolations Benefactors
(339) All the things of God are very well ordered and all the things ordained by God lead to the desired purpose with good means. This is clear in regard to the Church, the spouse of Jesus Christ. So that she would be the true spouse worthy of His Majesty, when he descended from heaven and became man, with his evangelical doctrine he himself gave her the very best form in which to be governed and render due worship to the Most Holy Trinity. When he died to fulfil our redemption he returned to heaven. Since it seemed to him correctly that men would not be adequate to govern this spouse of his, he sent them the Holy Spirit, so that not by others but by the Holy Spirit operating in men he would receive the due honour. By his immense goodness the Spirit perseveres continuously in the Church militant until the day of judgement, always teaching and correcting through the Prelates of the Church herself. The shape of the primitive Church was given by the Holy Spirit himself, as was the way she should resist the infernal enemy and the pestiferous doctrines of heretics. When the Holy Fathers assembled in the Sacred Councils, they condemned the false doctrines and other abuses which through the temptation of the devil were introduced into the body of Christianity. They reawakened and re-introduced in the Church that first shape that was given by the Holy Spirit himself.
Therefore, since he depended on the same Spirit as a legitimate son of Holy Church, our Father Saint Francis organised his little flock in the beginning and gave it the Rule that conformed to the apostolic life and that first shape which was given to the Church. He did this so that when through the instigation of the infernal enemy some laxity was introduced into the Order itself and it departed from the true observance of the Rule, that every year almost like a council the Fathers should assemble and reform the Province to which they belong. And every three years a General Chapter should assemble to provide for the whole Order so that it would be preserved in its first form.
(340) Therefore our poor Congregation suffered a lot for having gone ten years without ever convoking a General Chapter. This was because in the beginning, from 1525 until 1528, the Congregation was always small in number and suffered so many persecutions. They were not only unable to convoke the Chapter, but they went a long time without seeing one another. For fear of being apprehended by the adversaries they remained hidden in the woods and caves. However when Clement VII granted the Bull in 1528 the poor fellows assembled in the hut at Albacina as we have mentioned above. This was the first General Chapter. Later, however, because of the grave persecutions, the poor fellows could not assemble. However when in 1536 the Congregation had grown to a large number, it was decided that a General Chapter be held. Yet because Padre Ludovico did not feel that this Chapter be held just yet for the aforesaid reasons, great ill feeling came about among our Fathers, even though truly they were all holy and each of them was moved by good zeal. There was the one with sound understanding who took this side: he saw that the Congregation was like that beginning which our Seraphic Father gave to the Order. Because of the antagonism of the Friars Francis wrote the Rule and there was the resistance that Brother Elias and all his followers gave him. For as long as our Father lived Brother Elias always opposed to him. Nevertheless there was always the one who would also take the wrong view when he saw disagreement among the servants of God because they were all regarded as saints by everyone and by the Prelates of Holy Church. However when the truth became known, the Congregation remained completely glorious in all her beauty. This was because it later bore the greatest fruit that had ever been borne in Christianity.
It is no wonder therefore that as long as we are in this world we are often visited by the Lord our God. This is because our weakness is such that there is no one, as holy as he may be, who cannot in a short time become a devil. However that Goodness who loves us so much, who helps us by keeping us between hope and fear and always cuts away those things that could make us proud. Because of this it is obvious that there has never been a Congregation so holy that there was not some member of Lucifer’s.
Hence there was not as much harm as there was gain because any one who trusts in himself does not receive instruction.
Such satisfaction was derived from this Chapter through the preaching done by our Preachers on the holy Apostle that it was written about throughout all Christendom. The Constitutions and other beautiful ordinances were made as will be said later. The Congregation was consolidated in such a way that from then onwards every doubt was removed from the heart of the Friars.
(341) Being restrained therefore our Fathers compelled Padre Ludovico with many valid arguments that he should convoke the Chapter. Those Reverend Fathers showed the poor Fra Ludovico that it was a good thing in such a way that he no longer knew how to excuse himself. However he had his concept in mind which he did not dare to reveal. His idea was to guide the Congregation in the true and perfect observance of the Rule and he worried that celebrating a Chapter would ruin all his plans. Hence the resistance he gave was with holy zeal. He worried that it would be the final extermination of the poor Congregation. This was the greatest sorrow he suffered, that his good idea was understood by few or by none except by certain ones dear to him with whom he conferred in secret. The poor fellow was always supported by these few who understood his plan.
For his greater mortification it pleased the Lord God that he was not understood. So much confusion came from this misunderstanding that the whole Congregation turned on him. Such as human weakness goes those Reverend Fathers and the whole body of the Chapter did not estimate that his zeal was good or that the concept he had was good. The cause of all the trouble was that it wasn’t known. But since it seemed to them that it wasn’t zeal but an ambition, almost the whole Congregation turned its back on him.
(342) Hence the Friars and the Lady Marchioness knew that even though he had promised to hold the Chapter because Her Ladyship insisted so much, nevertheless because he was a judicious man there was no shortage of ways to withdraw from the promise. Therefore they decided that Her Ladyship should go personally and notify His Beatitude, Paul III of happy memory, about the matter. The Lady Marchioness went and gave this information to His Holiness and impressed upon him how important it was that Fra Ludovico must hold the Chapter.
Having understood this His Holiness immediately sent a Bishop to Padre Ludovico on his behalf to impose upon him under obedience that he must hold the Chapter on the solemnity of Pentecost. So then Padre Ludovico made it know throughout all the Provinces that the Chapter would be held at Santa Euphemia and that all the Friars come who were of some consideration and suitable for leadership. Almost the entire multitude of Capuchins came to Santa Euphemia from all of Italy.
With all the vocals assembled in the refectory wanting to begin chapter business, this holy Chapter was opened in the name of God with all the ceremonies that the Order uses. It was 1536. With everyone seated Padre Ludovico, as Head, gave a very beautiful sermon to the Friars. At the end he said these considered words. “Ever observant Reverend Fathers and brothers. You know how I have exhausted myself many, many years for this Congregation. It has been enough. God knows how much I have suffered persecutions and troubles. It is right that today I take a rest, especially since so many venerable and truly honourable Fathers have come. Without comparison they are more capable than I to sustain this one but every other burden. Therefore unburden me and give the task to others because today is the time that I take a breather and rest.”
He said these proper and formal words. If he had not said them he would have been confirmed again (in office) with doubt according to the judgement of everyone. For he was already accustomed to that yoke and had managed it well for many years.
(343) After the invocation of the Holy Spirit the elections were held. Six Father Definitors were elected. The first was Father Bernardine of Siena. The second was Father Bernardine of Asti. The third was Father John of Fano. The fourth was Father Eusebius of Ancona. I don’t remember the other two. When they came to the election of the General, because Father Bernardine of Siena was the first Definitor, he gave a brief and well-suited sermon. He exhorted the Friars about the election with all sincerity. “So that you do not make a mistake by thinking that I am suitable for this office, do not vote for me. I want you to know that His Holiness does not want me to become General. To indicate this he has given me a Brief about it so that you might believe me. Do not be scandalised by this as if I am fleeing from the effort of helping the poor Congregation because this is not true. Rather this is happening because there are men here whom Saint Francis would choose them as companions if he were to return. It is not permissible for me to say more than that.”
Immediately Father Bernardine of Monte dell’Olmo replied. “You are obliged to indicate it and I offer myself to debate with you about it.”
Father Bernardine of Siena replied. “It is not necessary to reveal who it is. Anyone who has some judgement will know who it while discussing it.”
Thus the holy and blessed election was carried out. In the first scrutiny Father Bernardine of Asti was elected. He was both a learned man and good bearing and holiness. He was perhaps the first in all the Franciscan Order in his day as was obvious. His teaching, his good governance and his holiness were obvious in the nine years in which he governed the entire poor Congregation. He was the one who guided it into true religious life.
(344) When the election was done, therefore, the poor Padre Ludovico was not very happy about it, not because he wasn’t pleased with that venerable Father. For in popular opinion and reputation he was regarded by all the Order for who he was. However he knew him badly because it he felt that the Friars did not had not had the respect for him which he truly deserved.
I believe this was a secret judgement of God for on one occasion Padre Ludovico was in the Marches to speak about matters of the Order with a Reformed Conventual Father called Brother Nardo, a Perugian. Padre Ludovico was praising the Capuchin life to him. Brother Nardo replied, “It is not necessary that you praise it for me because I am certain that this is the true Reform of the Order of Saint Francis. And I know that you have exhausted yourself very much. None the less I tell you that you will not die in it.” Padre Ludovico replied, “What will be is what God will want.” This was regarded as a prophecy anyone who knew of it because Brother Nardo was a holy man and always lived in a reformed way like a Capuchin with his companion called Brother Rufino. I have known them both.
To return to Padre Ludovico. Once the election was done he often showed with external signs that he didn’t like this election, especially when a lay friar brought him the news. Moreover, the whole body of the Chapter had assembled in the refectory to eat, and Brother Bernard of Fossombrone, a lay friar, had mounted the pulpit to give a little sermon to the Friars while they ate. Brother Bernard was a man of great spirit and the Friars really enjoyed his simplicity. Padre Ludovico entered the refectory and made Brother Bernard come down. Climbing the pulpit he gave a short sermon. It would have been better that he hadn’t done it because it gave great grief to all those Fathers and because he showed himself to be very sad. This was not enough. He took his leave of all the Friars placed at the usual tables in their Provinces and houses. The poor Father was unable to calm down. Worrying whether the poor Congregation would go wrong under the leadership of that good Father Bernardine of Asti Fra Ludovico went off to find the Cardinal of Trani at the time with whom he had great familiarity. He had often made use of his support in the various needs of the Congregation as they occurred. He told him that if the Congregation was ever in danger of being ruined, it was mores so then than ever before. And as His Lordship had always helped it, he should not want to fail it in this great need.
(345) Moved by these words, the Cardinal went straight away to His Beatitude Paul III and gave him a full briefing about it. On hearing these things, like a most vigilant shepherd he wondered if some plague of ambition had entered the poor Congregation. Since he wanted to provide quickly, that holy pastor ordered that the General Chapter assemble again in Rome in the next September. The Father General simply did all that His Holiness commanded.
(346) That His Holiness had the General Chapter assemble again was of no small importance to the poor Congregation. This was because the Congregation was very young and not well established. Because it was the first Chapter everyone hoped that the Congregation would have become firmer in that Chapter. When they saw it was in danger more than ever because of Padre Ludovico and other poor men, and worrying about what our barque would go through, some withdrew to the solitary life and some to other Religious Orders. I knew many such as Father Joseph of Macerata and Father Bernard of Borgo Sansepolcro. That saintly man Brother Anthony Corso and many others withdrew with Padre Ludovico. They took up a place in Rome called Saint Thomas’. Brother Augustine of Bassanello and many others stayed with Padre Ludovico. All this produced a great fear that the Congregation would be completely ruined. The desire of many Fathers to advance the Congregation cooled as they wondered if His Holiness would deprive us of the cowl and submit us to the Zoccolanti Fathers.
Our adversaries did not fail to sow a lot of darnel against us by speaking with His Holiness. They went to visit many of our friendly personages. They said to them, “Didn’t we tell you often that there they had no foundations? Everything they do is nothing other than ambition in order to draw the people along behind them and make them believe with that austerity that they were true observers of the Rule. However they are hypocrites. Look now at their first Chapter. Now they are divided among themselves because each of them wants to dominate. It would be best if Your Holiness took that cowl off their heads and had them submit to our obedience. Because in a short time none of them will remain when they see themselves under obedience since they are used to going around like vagabonds and each one doing his own thing. One day they will give some great scandal if His Holiness does not make them return to us.”
All these views spread everywhere. The simple Friars entered into a great fear. They said among themselves, “What do we want to do? For myself, I do not want to return again into transgression of the Rule. To go to other Religious Orders is not fitting. Let us prepare ourselves to go off into the desert. Father Saint Francis put it into the Rule that if it is not possible to observe it in the Order the Friars may go alone or with the companion to the desert, if the Pope checked these words well. Therefore blessed was the one who prepared mantles, guns, hatchets and other things to go to the desert. For many months there was talk of little else.
(347) Immediately the Father General began to visit and console the poor Friars that they did not have to worry about anything. “As long as were are in the perfect observance of the Rule God will never abandon us nor permit the Congregation to be deprived of the habit of Father Saint Francis. It has been hidden for such a long time and His Majesty has now revealed it we, by his grace, are clothed in it. No should we believe that the Lord God would wish to deprive us of it without cause. Neither the Order nor any Reform has ever been so universally and in such perfect observance as our Congregation is today, and do you want God to deprive us of it? I will never believe that because when His Majesty grants some benefit to an Order, he never deprives it of that benefit as long as it is not used badly or for some dreadful sin. This is not the case among us who are, by the grace of God, in the perfect observance of the Rule. Therefore be of good courage because there isn’t any danger. I have spoke with His Holiness and he is fond of us. He has no plan to ruin us as our adversaries say, or to submit us to the Zoccolanti Fathers. Instead he did everything to satisfy Padre Ludovico and because of some suspicion that His Holiness, like other Prelates of the Church, had that there may be some ambitious Friars among us. He did this to purge the Congregation, not to ruin it. Rather I tell you and assure you that the Congregation will never be impeded from what it has been granted. It will never be ruined except by itself. As long as it walks in the footsteps of our Father Saint Francis, as it has until now, it will always be safe.”
Everything that His Very Reverend Paternity said was fulfilled because the Congregation was never certain of perseverance as long as that second Chapter was not held.
On the other hand when the simple Friars said that they were worried that the congregation would be ruined and therefore they wanted to go into the desert, some of those more attuned to the spirit laughed. They referred to the words of Blessed Giles when a Friar asked him, “What will we do my father if persecution comes in our own times?” The holy man answered, “If we are in the observance of the Rule, even if rocks fall from heaven they will not harm us.” Our Lord knows very well that we cannot observe our profession and give him due honour without the Order. The Order sustains us like a mother keeps us so that even though there may be many well established in the spirit and enlightened by God in contemplation, that if the Order were to be ruined these would be able to maintain themselves in the desert places helped by God. However so many simple, young and old Friars with whom there is not enough spirit, if the Congregation were to go bad, all these would perish. Some would return to the world and others to lax Orders, so that God would be little honoured by it. Therefore do not worry whether his Majesty will preserve it or not.” In this way they were consoled.
(348) It pleased the Lord God that many men of great value came from the Order to our Congregation during these difficulties. Among all these was the great servant of God and very learned Brother Francis Tittelmans with his two companions, Brother Leonard, a priest, and Brother Martin, a lay friar. These brought great favour to the Congregation both because they were learned and because of the great hope that they would have of favouring the Congregation with their learning and their great reputation. There was great favour also with His Holiness and Prelates of the Church with the coming of these outstanding men. And this was not small affront to the adversaries. Many noble and famous seculars were also clothed (in the habit). Thus it was obvious that if the Lord God struck us on the one hand, on the other he never failed to help us and console us while walking on such a harsh journey. For the Capuchins were in the extremities of suffering, especially in eating. Because of their many fasts on bread and water no one was ever seen with any colour in his face. Nor was there any shortage of the devil’s temptations. Still within a short time those poor Friars who had left returned again to the Congregation and gave the greatest joy to everyone with their presence. For they were so united in love and charity that when anyone left they felt heartbroken. The great servant of God Brother Anthony Corso did the same. Padre Ludovico remained almost alone. Of those who did not return, almost all died badly. They acknowledged and said frankly to anyone who wanted to listen, “Brothers, do not allow yourselves to be deceived by the devil. Know that there is nothing better than the Capuchins. If we had not returned it would been easy for us to die damned.”
This confirmed many simple Friars who were tempted by solitude.
Also the support many important persons gave them was also great. They persuaded His Holiness that he should embrace the Congregation of Capuchins. The Lord Camillo Orsino was one. He always supported the Congregation most faithfully. Her Ladyship Victoria Colonna, the Marchioness of Pescara supported the Congregation not only by herself. She tried to convert many Lords and to draw them with letters and words to devotion towards the Capuchins. These were continuously at the ear of His Holiness. The adversaries could not say a single word in Court without them knowing about it. Point by point they rebutted their schemes and machinations against the Congregation and disposed His Holiness to do everything good for it.
Also there was no small benefit in that certain important persons who persecuted the Congregation died one after the other within a short time.
However what was more important were the fervent holy prayers sent continuously to the Lord God for the preservation of our Congregation. Writing to the whole Congregation, the Father General continuously advised that ardent prayers be offered. To the praise of God. Amen.