How after Bernardine Ochino’s departure from us it was made clear that the Congregation of Capuchins was free of every stain of heresy.

420 Everyone is convinced of the innocence of the Capuchin Congregation 421 The Council of Trent and the Capuchins 422 Studies 423 Diversity in the friaries built

(420) Because of the departure of Ochino it pleased our Lord God to make it clear to everyone that the Prelates of Holy Church and others still worried about whether the poor Congregation may have been tarnished by the pestiferous doctrine of Ochino. Therefore he wanted to demonstrate the innocence of the Congregation and how by the grace of God it was completely cleansed and purged of heretical depravity. He wanted to show that the Capuchins, even though they had been humiliated by God in the before the peoples of having had such a pestiferous Head, nonetheless they glorified in their innocence. With remarkable patience they endured the injuries given them by their rivals on this occasion. However our Lord God added to the Congregation in all the Provinces with many good men, both noble men and common men, who came with great fervour to receive the habit. Therefore the foundation that our Seraphic Father gave it was not vane when he commended and submitted his Order completely to obedience to the Holy Church. He established that the holy Order should persevere on this foundation, united and incorporated with the spouse Jesus Christ and to submit to her always and in everything- to have to be corrected and regulated by the Prelates of Holy Church. For the Congregation of Capuchins has never received anything but support and countless benefits from both His Holiness and all the Prelates of Holy Church too. Like a good mother she has corrected those who have erred and preserving the good with countless favours. As the venerable Father Francis of Iesi said, in their governance of our Congregation it is obvious that the Holy Spirit governs the Prelates of the Church. It cannot be said that we hold to this just by faith, although we do hold to it by faith. We hold to it because of obvious experience in which we have seen clearly that they have never done anything regarding the Congregation that they should not have done in justice. As Paul III, of happy memory, said, “I had resolved to ruin the Congregation of Capuchins completely, but I knew that God did not want this.” The Holy Pontiff wanted to infer that in this matter with reason he was angry towards the Congregation. Guided by the Holy Spirit, however, he preserved it.

(421) Not long after the General Chapter gathered in Rome. The General, Father Bernardine of Asti had a careful search made for the Bull His Holiness Paul III had granted us. However it could not be found. They found many summaries but the original was never found. They wondered if His Holiness, during this furore, had found it and had it thrown into the fire. Because of this the poor Congregation was in great travail. It pleased or Lord God that Julius III granted another, more ample Bull since the venerable Father Bernardine of Asti endeavoured to obtain a new Bull from His Holiness which he kindly granted. However what was more important was that when the General Council assembled in Trent in the time of Pius IV it pleased the our Lord God that our Congregation was accepted as a legitimate daughter of the Church by all those Illustrious and Reverend Fathers of the Sacred Council. And our Congregation was recorded in the sacred canons. This did a lot to consolidate the poor Congregation of Capuchins because until then it had always been in the greatest fear. Those Reverend Fathers of the sacred Council had such a good impression that the Capuchins were cherished very much and highly regarded by everyone. And even though they would not have urged them, the sacred Council gave them the seals of the Order, which they offered them with great insistence. However, in order to remain in their humility and not to give any trouble to the Order, since they always wanted all the other Friars to be our Fathers and superiors, our Fathers did not care for this pre-eminence. And this turned out well for them because there is a great reason to keep us in humility and at peace with everyone.

(422) The Congregation spread very much after that. Setting some studies gave occasion for many noblemen to come to the Congregation and they made it quite illustrious before the world. May the Lord will that the Congregation be more illustrious before His Majesty. For although we cannot do without it since we have to preach, nonetheless it has always been the cause of much laxity in the Order. When there were no studies the Lord God sent us some very learned men who were enough so that with the true observance of the Rule the entire Congregation lived in simplicity and the perfect observance of the Rule. These practised holy prayer much more and gave better example to the seculars. From all these things it came about that those few preachers, without comparison, bore more fruit than many do now who lose the spirit and devotion in order to attend to studies.

(423) Because of studies and the multitude of Friars there were buildings that were quite different to those that the early Fathers made. This came from necessity because those little houses were not adequate for such a multitude. To the praise and glory of our Lord Jesus Christ. Amen.