On the observance of the Testament and work

29 Manual work 30 In the hospitals 31 Opinions about manual work 32 The successful opinion

(29) Those venerable Fathers judged that the Rule of the Seraphic Francis could not be observed without observing his Testament. Just at the holy and learned man Father Francis Tittelmans said: The Friars will never observe the Rule perfectly if they do not observe the Testament. For the Testament is none other than a declaration of difficult passages of the Rule. Among other things, even though we can live from the alms offered us, or indeed from the alms we beg – and all this is according to the Rule – nonetheless the more perfect way of living according to the purity of the Rule would be to live by work. We see this in the early Fathers to whom the shape of perfection was given. We find that they all lived by their labours. We see the same in the Monks of Basil the Great who in their Rule the precept of living by their own work. At the time of Saint Benedict, even though they had their own estates, nonetheless they worked them with their own hands. Ploughing the fields and organising and doing all the things that belong to agriculture, they lived by their own efforts. The same also appears in Father Saint Bernard. He wanted his Monks to work. However what is more important is that the Apostle Paul boasted of having lived from his own efforts, working not only for himself but also to support his disciples and companions.

If we consider it well, all the early Fathers included in their Rules that work should be done just as we see also in our Seraphic Father Saint Francis. He says in the Testament: I worked with my own hands and I want to work. And I want my Friars to work steadfastly, etc. Because of this, many Capuchins who knew how to do certain fitting jobs worked, such as weaving, sewing garments, making shoes, bags, baskets and similar things. In many friaries they organised looms, just as I saw with my own eyes at Saint Nicholas in Rome where they had four or five looms. They earned almost enough for the food of all the Friars. The same in Genoa where they wove very valuable cloth and also distilled herbs. In this way most houses almost lived from their own work.

(30) In order to observe the Testament perfectly they set to serving lepers in hospitals, as was manifest in Rome, Naples, Genoa and other places, but especially in Saint James of the Incurable in Rome. That hospital was almost abandoned but when there Capuchins were introduced there they brought it back to such good order that it was regarded as the best hospital in all Italy at the time. For such was the income from alms so that to the rooms already there more than half that number was added on. When wood was collected there were five hundred beds is use sometimes, and all full of sick people and all under the care of the Capuchins. This was very edifying for all of Christendom. And just as I saw, and as those Fathers who took care of the hospital told me, sometimes twenty thousand scudi of alms came in. The hospital was so clean, well organised and run that many gentlemen and lords had themselves brought to the hospital to benefit from the service and to be instructed in the things of the soul by those venerable servants of God. A certain solicitude for the service of the sick was evident day and night, so that when the sick recovered they all went home converted. For in the beginning they had them go to Confession and receive Holy Communion. There were always spiritual readings during meals. Mass was said for them every day and they often had a sermon. Such was their fervour to serve the lepers that very many Friars asked their Superiors for that work. Many Friars stayed there until they died in a very holy way. However since I have mentioned some of the more outstanding Friars in its own place, I will not extend myself any further in this.

(31) Nonetheless a disagreement emerged among the Fathers about wanting live by work. Hence they all said that living by their own work is more in conformity with the apostolic life than any other way of life. We cannot deny that the early ancient Fathers adhered to this way of life. However the Venerable Father Bernardine of Asti, Brother Francis of Iesi. Brother John of Fano and many other Fathers, all very illustrious and holy men, said, “Living by one’s work, although it is something perfect, is not common to all. For if we look at the time of Saint Francis that blessed Brother Giles, Blessed Brother Juniper and many other Companions of Saint Francis lived by work, we do not believe however that the entire Order lived from work.” Therefore they did not want this to continue. They said, “It should suffice for all the Congregation to live from begging. If there is someone who wants to live from his work, we grant him this. For if they do not think about making a Congregation of holy Religious who attend to Mass, the holy Offices, the study of the Scripture and preaching, they will make a Congregation of shop-keepers because in the mechanical tasks one is forced to get involved with seculars. An also, in order to continue that work it is difficult to keep a balance so that they do not fall headlong into work and the spirit is extinguished completely. For God has ordered all things to serve the spirit, as our Father says in the Rule.” Because of this they put in the Constitutions that the Friars be careful not to make work their end, but only to work enough to expel idleness, the enemy of the soul. This was the reason that the Venerable Father Francis of Iesi moderated all these works. On the other hand, however, Brother Louis of Fossombrone, the venerable Father Tittelmans and a good many others were of the opposite opinion: that one should work. Therefore, just as I heard Tittelmans say himself, “Work in the friary should be kept and when the Friars are studying, preparing to say Mass or saying the Office or praying, they should not be told to go to work. However, as for all that time that they would spend at recreation or talking, I want them spend in working, especially since the tasks are not very tiring.” He convinced everyone with these reasons. Nonetheless, when this venerable Father had died, it seemed expedient to withdraw from such work and also from the care of the hospitals because it was obvious that many Friars lost the spirit in those things. In this way it was stopped for the best. Nonetheless all those early Fathers affirmed that that service in the hospitals and the work still inspired the spirit within them. I saw this with my own eyes when Brother Gregory of Viterbo was eating. He was a man of great perfection. He shed more tears on the table than the morsels that he ate. This came about from his sensitivity because he saw himself eating the bread of his works and within the perfect observance of the Rule.

(32) This came about because for a long time they were practiced in the spiritual life. And although they worked they did not fail to keep their minds always on God. Therefore those early Fathers derived great profit and acquired a lot of spirit by serving those poor sick people out of charity alone for the love of Jesus Christ, and also by conforming themselves with our Father Saint Francis. In the beginning of his conversion he met a leper with such horrid lesions that Francis was frightened just to look at him. However when he came to himself, he returned and to mortify himself better he embraced the neck of the leper and kissed him where his wounds were the worst.In an instant the leper disappeared from the midst of that embrace and showed himself to him with a glad face. That leper was the Lord of the universe who with so many scourings wanted to appear like a leper on the cross for the sake of universal salvation. Inspired by this, the divine Francis began to serve lepers with great enthusiasm for love of Him who had appeared to him as one.

However as the Congregation grew and Friars came who were not so practiced in the spirit, the venerable Fathers, enlightened by the Holy Spirit, knew that to set these Friars to work and at the service of the sick would have been the cause of great ruin and judge that no one undertake these things. Therefore they stopped these tasks. However they thought time should not be wasted, but that they Friars should work at their prayer and holy studies, thus condemning and reprimanding idleness totally. Therefore those venerable Fathers said, “The one who works at holy prayer, holy Offices, holy studies or at preaching is doing a great work. Our Lay Friars spend their time well when they work at the duties and offices of the Order.”

To the praise and glory of Our Lord Jesus Christ and our Father Saint Francis. Amen.

APPENDIX THREE: List of ministers General of the order of friars minor from 1329 until 1443 The eighteenth General was Brother Gerald Odone, from the Province of Aquitaine. He was elected at the Chapter of Paris in 1329 during the Pontificate of Pope John XXII. The General assembled the General Chapter in Perpignano in 1331. In that Chapter he changed almost all the statues of the Order and made new Constitutions. This upset the entire Order.

At this time the Saracens martyred many holy Friars. Among them was Brother Stephen of Hungary. In the city of Sarai, after many miracles, he was crowned with holy martyrdom on 22nd April 1334 and flew to heaven.

In the same year Brother William of England was martyred in Salmastro, a Saracen village. He flew to heaven in glory.

In 1337 the General Chapter assembled in England in the city of Canterbury, since Pope John XXII had died in 1335 after having governed for nineteen years. In that same year Benedict XII assumed the Pontificate. New statues were made at this Chapter.

At this time in the city of Amalek, in 1341, the Saracens cruelly martyred the Priests Brother Francis of Alexandria, Brother Richard of Bologna, the Provincial Brother Raymond, Brother Paschal of Vittoria from Spain and the Lay Friars Brother Lawrence of Alexandria, Brother Peter Marcelli from the Province of Provence when they were preaching the holy faith of Christ. In the same year, in the castle of Vulna in the Duchy of Livonia, idolatrous people martyred Brother Oderic of Aldeconio and Brother Martin of Adenella, the Provincial of Bohemia. Glorious with the palm of martyrdom they flew to heaven.

This General, Brother Gerald, governed the Order for almost thirteen years. However in 1342, when Benedict XII hade already died and Clement VI had assumed the Papacy in the same year, the latter made him the General Patriarch of Antioch and the Bishop of Catania. And so he was absented from the Order.

The nineteenth General was Brother Fortanerius Vasalli from the Province of Aquitaine. He was elected in the Marseilles Chapter in 1343, during Clement’s second year. In that Chapter it was ordered that the Constitutions of Saint Bonaventure be observed as well as all the others that had been abrogated, both those of the Friars and those of the Supreme Pontiffs as well.

In the same year the General Fortanerius received to the Order the holy bride of Christ, Sancia of Majorca, Queen of Sicily and of Jerusalem. She came to the service of Christ with such fervour that she stripped herself of all worldly riches and wanted to observe the first Rule of Saint Clare at the monastery of the Holy Cross in Naples, in most high poverty and with contempt for herself. With great holiness of life this holy Queen finished her life in that monastery. Having exchanged the earthly kingdom for the heavenly one, and having exchanged an earthly spouse for the heavenly one, Jesus Christ, she went glorious to heaven.

In 1345 the infidels in Asia Minor martyred Brother Livinius while he was preaching the holy faith of Jesus Christ with great fervour.

On the 15th April in the same year, Brother John of Montepulciano from the Province of Tuscany was martyred. This servant of God was preaching in the same region and flew to heaven with the palm of martyrdom.

In the year 1347 Clement VI made Brother Fortanerius Archbishop of Ravenna and then the Patriarch of Grado after having governed the Order for six years. Not long after he finished his life in the city of Padua and was buried in the church of the Friars Minor.

The twentieth General was Brother William Farinero from the Province of Aquitaine. He was elected at the Verona Chapter in 1348 during the sixth year of the Pontificate of Clement. President at that Chapter was Brother Fortanerius, Archbishop of Ravenna.

In 1352 something great and novel took place. It was this. Brother Gentile of Spoleto, from the Province of Saint Francis, along with many other devout Friars and holy men, out of zeal for the Rule and supported by many important personages, put it to His Holiness that the community of Friars did not observe the Rule. Therefore with great insistence they begged His Holiness to grant them some places where, withdrawn from the community of Friars, they could perfectly observe the rule as Saint Francis intended. Hearing this and recognising the holiness of their lives, their zeal and good intention he graciously granted the place at Monteluco situation on the summit of the mountain of Spoleto, the place of the Carcere in Assisi, the place of the Hermitage of Cesi and the place at Jano. So His Holiness granted them these four places where they could observe the Rule fully. He gave them authority to be able to receive twelve Friars for each of the houses, both from the Order as well as seculars, from wherever they would come. Under pain of excommunication His Holiness ordered that no one could stop them.

As soon as Brother Gentile and his companions returned they made coarse, tight and lowly habits, as was the intention of Father Saint Francis and completely different from those of the community in their measure and shape. Within a short time many other zealous Friars joined them with great gladness and boosted this Reform. However in 1534, since Clement had already died and Innocent VI assumed the Papacy, the General Chapter was assembled in Assisi. This Chapter ordered the observance of the statues of Saint Bonaventure. Because Brother William, the General, imposed these as an order, these statutes took their name from him and are called therefore the statutes of William Fariniero. In this Chapter there was very diligent discussion about the Reform of Brother Gentile and his companions. Many who did not like the reform put it insistently to the Fathers in the definition and said, “If you do not revoke the Brief Brother Gentile obtained from His Holiness, this reform will grow so quickly that the Order will be divided.” This set everyone thinking very much. When the Fathers of the Chapter discussed it among themselves it was decided to have recourse to the Pope and put to him problems that could come from that Brief, determined to beg His Holiness to make Brother Gentile and his companions come before him and to prove to him in debate with them that they were doing the wrong thing by bringing this novelty to the Order. Also they relied heavily on the support of great personages who were friends of the Order to do all they could with His Holiness in order to bring down this Reform completely. However since the General was very learned, he was perhaps more politically astute than any of them and thought up a wicked ruse in order to confound these poor brothers. For this General had understood that there had been some men suspected of heresy in the houses of these reformed Friars. The poor fellows had given them lodging to see if they could convert them. When they saw that these were obstinate, they sent them away. Although the General and all the Friars knew that Brother Gentile and his companions were holy Friars and very Catholic Religious, nonetheless they took this occasion to calumniate them for no other reason but to bring them down. They decided among themselves that if they came to debate before His Holiness it would be more scandalous. However with this wrap of having accommodated heretics would be less scandalous, “because we will give the impression that we are moved by zeal for the faith and not because we do not like the reform. This way our scheme be better concealed.”

So while the General was working to bring down this Reform, for some secret reason the Lord God allowed at that time a Cardinal to come to Italy called Cardinal Giles of Spain. Because His Holiness was in Avignon he sent this Cardinal as his legate, for Pope John XXII have taken up the see of Rome and put it Avignon where it staid for many years. This Cardinal was a friend of the General. So when he came, with his support, by command of the Cardinal the General had Brother Gentile and his companions imprisoned as suspected of introducing some wicked sect of heretics into the Church and that they were the cause of division in the Order. Therefore when the General had recourse to His Holiness Innocent VI along with the report of the Cardinal, His Holiness immediately revoked the Brief granted by Pope Clement to Brother Gentile and his companions. This great displeased all the good and zealous Friars. Because of this, when this Reform began it was such a joy to all the good and zealous Friars that the holy Order felt moved. And in all the Provinces many zealous Friars came forward so that there were many of them in hermitages and many in little houses and many in friaries. Although the suffered many persecutions, they observed the Rule, especially in dress and holy poverty. They zealously avoided receiving money. They were careful not to raise their voices or that their buildings were excessive. Never wanted to eat stores of bread or wine. Nor did they want those things that came via legacies or illicit means. So they suffered great persecutions and almost always ate little other than bread and water. Nor could they rest until they got another Reform again.

Pope Innocent VI made this General William Farinieri the Cardinal of Saint Marcellinus and Saint Peter in the year 1536. Nonetheless he remained vicar of the Order until the new General was elected. Therefore he ruled the Order nine years and probably this did him great of harm in the process, may God forbid.

The twenty-first General was Brother John of Buco from the Province of Aquitaine. He was elected at the Barcelona Chapter of 1537 in the fifth year of Innocent VI. During his time, that is, 1358, the very fervent servants of God, Brother Nicholas of Montecomo and Brother Francis of the Province of Terra di Lavoro – were martyred in the Middle East.

In that year, when the General was in the Province of Borgogna, at the friary of Bestia, he passed away to the Lord and Innocent made Cardinal William Fariniero Vicar of the Order. He convoked the General Chapter in Genoa. While the governed the Order and a General had not yet been elected, he received into the Order Prince Peter, the very noble son of the King of Aragon and the Queen, who was the sister of Saint Louis, Bishop of Tolosa. By revelation, God exhorted this Prince that he should enter the Order of Friars Minor. Because he was an illustrious person and held in very high regard buy everyone, his conversion caused great wonder throughout all Christendom and the reputation of the Order was greatly enhanced. For at that time the house of Aragon was the prime household of Christendom. Peter took the habit with great devotion and always led a very exemplary life and passed away to the Lord in a most hold manner.

The twenty-second General was Brother Mark of Viterbo from the Province of Rome. He was elected at the above-mentioned Chapter assemble in Genoa in the year 1359. This General governed the Order for a very short time. Since Innocent Vi had died in 1383, Urban V was elected in the same year and made this General, Brother Mark, Cardinal of Saint Praxedes. In the following year the Chapter was assembled for the election of the new General.

The twenty-third General was Brother Thomas of Bologna, from the Province of Romagna. He was elected in the Chapter gathered in Assisi in 1367, the second year of Urban V. During this year the infidel Saracens martyred many very fervent Friars Minor. So in that same year twelve Friars were martyred. They lived in Mount Sion with many secular Christians who stayed with them. The reason was that the King of Cyprus made war against the Saracen city of Alexandria and captured it. Angered by this, the Saracens martyred many Christians.

In the Hungarian city called Biundina, in 1369, five very fervent Friars Minor were martyred. They were Brother Anthony of Saxony, a man who was very inspired and gracious when the spoke about God, and a great contemplative. He had the grace of rapture. There was Brother Gregory of Tragurio from the Province of Dalmatia. He was a man of profound humility and had a zealous fervour about the catholic faith. The next was Brother Nicholas of Hungary. For sixteen years he never ate more than once a day after vespers and always bread and water. Against his bare skin he always wore a harsh hairshirt, that is, a girdle of chain mail with iron rings. Since they were Priests, they made of themselves a sacrifice to the Lord God, offering their own bodies to death in defence of the holy faith. Martyred with them were the Lay Friars Brother Thomas of Foligno, from the Province of Saint Francis, and Brother Eladius. They were men of great penance and very austere and devout. For a long time they had desired to die for Christ. It was granted them that, after much penance, to earn the palm of martyrdom for the love of Christ and glorious they flew away to heaven. Urban V died in 1372 and Gregory XI assumed office. This Gregory made the General, Brother Thomas, Patriarch of Grado and so he was absolved from the office of General.

The twenty-fourth General was Brother Leonard of Griffonibus, from the Province of Terra di Lavoro, who was elected at the General Chapter held in Tolosa in 1373. At that Chapter, because he was very devoted towards the Order of Minors, His Holiness wrote a very supportive and friendly Bull. Since this world is not worthy of any thing good, this holy Pontiff died in 1378 in the eighth year of his Pontificate. Urban VI was elected by constraint and out of fear in the following year. From this it happened that the Church was in schism for many years. During this discord many Pontiffs were elected. It always happened that one was elected in Rome and another was elected in Avignon in France. There were many tribulations during this time.

The twenty-fifth General was Brother Louis of Venice who was elected in the Chapter held in Strigonia in Hungary in 1380 while King Louis was alive and his mother Queen Elizabeth. Both were very devoted to the Order. Nothing is written that this General did anything notable in the Order. Therefore I think this was because he lived a short time.

The twenty-sixth General was Brother Martin of Genoa. He was elected at the Chapter in Padua in 1384 while Pope Urban was in Rome and the other Pontiff was in Avignon. Similarly, nothing notable is written about him because he lived about three years.

The twenty-seventh General was Brother Henry from the Province of Genoa. He was elected in the Chapter held in Florence in 1387. Similarly he lived a short time.

The twenty-seventh General was Brother Anthony or Pireto who was elected at the General Chapter assemble din Argentina in 1405.

Note that these four Generals were during the time of the schism in the church and the Order always elected two Generals. Just as there were two Popes and one part obeyed Pope Urban who was in Rome, namely the Italians, Germans and Hungarians. And on the other hand the Spanish, French and English obeyed Clement who resided in Avignon. So two Generals were elected. At the same time, the Order was quite lax. Although there were many zealous and holy Friars, nonetheless they could not defend themselves from the many tribulations from the many tribulations that they suffered from the lax and permissive Friars. This was because they did not know to which Pontiff they should have recourse. All Christendom was confused. However as it pleased God who never abandoned the little barque of Peter, the General Council of Constance was assembled under Martin V and just one General was given to the Order, namely, Brother Anthony of Massa from Siena. However because this man was too nice, the Order grew very lax under his government and in fact departed from the true observance of the Order. So he was justly relieved of Office and made Bishop of Massa. The poor Order of Friars Minor was within these tribulations of the schism and bad government for about thirty years. Nonetheless during this time many zealous Friars withdrew to poor little places and there commended themselves with many tears to the Lord God so that He would provide for His Order. With very strict poverty and abstinence they observed the Rule they had promised to God. The many who were not allowed to withdraw to poor little places, remained in the friaries and with great difficulty observed the Rule and led a very exemplary life, while hoping, nonetheless, that God would provide for them one day.

At this time there was Brother Paolucio of Foligno, a Lay Friar and very zealous man. His relative was one of the lords of Foligno. With his support he obtained from the General the friary of Brugliano in the mountains above Foligno and about fourteen miles from that city and where he could stay with his companions. With great difficulty this lord got for him the faculty to receive to his company other zealous Friars and they lived there in the greatest poverty. News of this spread throughout the entire Order. Because of this example many Friars in all the Provinces were inspired with the great desire to observe the Rule. With great insistence they begged from their Ministers to be able to withdraw into poor places to observe the Rule there. Because of this, the good Friars suffered many persecutions.

Note therefore that this Reform took it origin from the Friars of Narbonne, and the Zoccolanti Reform began in Spain. For many years they were without a head, however with great difficulty some of them did as best they could to withdraw with great difficulty in all the Provinces. However, as it pleased God, the General Council of Constance had assembled and the schism ended. This was a great relief for the poor reformed Friars for they decided to go the Sacred Council and they were kindly received and to their great satisfaction the Fathers of the Council heard their reasons and understood their good intention which was to observe the Rule. Those venerable Council Fathers understood very well about the great persecution these Friars had sustained from the bad Friars. So with the common consent of the Fathers, the Sacred Council granted them a Vicar General and they were called the Friars of the Observance. This was in 1415 and their first Vicar Genral was Brother Nicholas Rudolph, a man of learning and adorned with good ways. All this was during the time of the General, Brother Anthony of Pireto.

The twenty-ninth General was Brother Anthony of Rusconibus. He was elected in the General Chapter after Martin V had died and Eugene IV had assumed the papacy. However in the year 1443 Eugene IV saw that the reform had grown very much in over a short period of time and that it had been beneficial for all Christendom. So he asked Brother Anthony, the Minster General, if he would he happy to send Brother John of Maubert his Commissary beyond the Alps to consolidate and preserve the reform because there were some houses in France, Spain, Germany and Hungary, in nearly all the Provinces. However since the Superiors of the reform had never visited them it was going badly for them. Although he would unwillingly grant this Commissary to His Holiness, nonetheless this General sent him so as not to displease His Holiness. Since he was a man of great learning and good life, this Brother John strengthened the reform in those parts. And because he had the authority of the Pope he did everything he wanted – taking up all those houses that seemed suitable to him. In some parts he took up entire Provinces, only he reformed them according to the customs of the Friars of the Observance. Hence within a short time it spread very much and many holy and famous preachers zealous for the observance of the Rule came there from the body of the Order as happened in Italy with Saint Bernardine, Brother John Capistrano, Brother James of the Marches and many others.

HISTORICAL NOTES ON SOME FRANCISCAN REFORMS I have taken all this very faithfully from an authentic book called the Memoriale dell’Ordine in order to remove the false opinion of some who say that Saint Bonaventure abandoned the cowl that our Father Saint Francis wore with all the Order. They say that he introduced the rounded cowl which the Zoccolanti Fathers now wear. This is very false because as we have written above the pointed cowl was worn fifty-four years after the death of Saint Bonaventure. For one hundred and twenty two years the whole Order wore the habit that the Capuchins wear now. After this habit had been lost, the zealous Friars who knew this desired to take it up again. When the Zoccolanti Reform began they could not take up fully the shape of the habit because there was an excommunication. However they took up it in regard to its lowliness because they all dressed as we see the Reformed Friars of Spain do. However as the Zoccolanti Reform grew lax, other zealous Friars have done other reforms in different Provinces as is obvious in 1502 under Alexander VI. There we see that Father Bernardine of Feltre and Father Angelus of Clavasio. When they found in the Custody of the Angels in Spain that the Friars of the fraternity generally no longer lived in the pure observance of the Rule. This gave occasion to the birth of a reform that still endures.

So moved by holy zeal, Father John of Guadalupe from that Province had recourse to the Roman court and through a Brief obtained permission to be able to live in reformed manner and, as a Custos, to receive whichever Friars he pleased, and that neither he nor his companions were subject to anyone but the General so that they could live more tranquilly in observance. However the Zoccolanti could not be patient when they saw those poor fellows make such great progress in the observance of the Rule and acted by means of Queen Elizabeth. She was a truly holy and very prudent woman, regarded the best Queen of her time by public acclaim and reputation. However she let herself be misled by the sweet words and opinions of the Friars of the Observance. This queen acted in such a way that she had the same Pope Alexander revoke the Brief and have them return to the other Friars. Thus their Reform was tangled up because those poor Friars were forced to leave the houses that they had taken up under obedience to the Pope.

When this Brother John saw this, he set out on a journey to go to Rome to make every effort with His Holiness to get back again the lost favour. However while he was on the journey, the Lord God called him to the better life. Thus this Reform was ended.

Later, however, Father Angelus and Father Peter of Malgara obtained a Brief from Julius Second to be able to continue the Reform that had begun and to take up again the houses that had been just abandoned. This way they were able stay until the present. Although they had taken up the cowl like us, they were forced to abandon them.

Many reforms had also begun in Italy like that of Brother Angelo Clareno. They were called the Clareni Friars because their first friary they established was in the Marches near a river called the Clareno. The name of this whole Reform came from this river.

Among the Conventuals was also the Blessed Amadeus. He also made a Reform. Then came Brother Francis of Montepulciano. He made the reform of the Conventuals, remnants of which still exist today.

Then many very many holy men arose among the Friars of the Observance. I have known many of them, such as Father Bernadine of Asti, Brother Francis of Iesi and many other Friars zealous for the observance of the Rule. They obtained via the Apostolic See a Brief and then a Bull in order to be able to reform themselves. The Zoccolanti Reform was done and if they had supported it, the Order would have been quite calmed, just as I saw with my own eyes and heard with my own ears from those Fathers themselves. However since they could not withstand the many persecutions of the lax Friars, and seeing themselves attacked so viciously, it pleased the Lord God to provide the Capuchin Reform. This was miraculous because it began with very weak Friars who were unlettered and with little renown. On the other hand the Congregation of Zoccolanti had the greatest reputation with His Holiness and all the Christian Princes. Nearly all of them went to confession to confessors from that Congregation. Nonetheless, so that it would be obvious that this reform happened thought the support of God and not through human support, four barefoot men resisted all the power of the Zoccolanti and prevailed over all their worldly supporters. This shows me clearly that this has been a work of God.

However when I was in the Friary at Montecasale, the Reverend Father Jerome of Montefiore was the General of our Congregation at the time. Since I am old he enjoined on me to write the lives of our early Fathers, especially in regard to their abstinence, miracles and visions that those holy men had at that time. I did this very faithfully, while hoping that the Reverend Father Marius of Mercato Saraceno – who also wrote – would supply what I lacked. He wrote about that beginning better than I did. From what I wrote, and what His Reverence wrote, the Father General would be able to make a complete work. However when I saw that this did not turn out the way I thought, I have undertaken this little effort of adding to this work this brief collection of more notable things from the body of the Order, especially about the reforms that began in it, so that everyone should know that God did the Capuchin Reform in such good shape.

Although we are under the General of the Conventual Fathers by way of a kind of dependence, as His Holiness Pope Clement wanted, none the less all the reforms have proceeded in this way, just as one can see with the Congregation of the Observance. It was always under the General of the Conventuals from Martin V until Leo X, about ninety years. All their Superiors were called “Vicar General” and “Vicar Provincial”, just as we call them now.

Therefore our Capuchin Congregation began in the year 1525, as will be described below.

To the praise and glory of Our Lord Jesus Christ. Amen.

APPENDIX IV: A List of the Superiors General Of the Capuchin Friars Minor Produced by Peter Rudolf of tuscany The Capuchins, their origin and founder It may seem that there is no certain knowledge about the establishment and founder of the Capuchins since each writer has his own way of putting it. However the more common opinion is that they owe their beginning to Brother Matthew from Bascio, a well known town in Umbria by the river Marida, on a ridge of the Apennines. Imbued with Christian principles from his early childhood and moved by divine influence, he decided to serve God and devoutly accepted the habit of St. Francis in the friary of Montefiori near Montefeltro in Umbria. From then on he led an austere life near Montefalcone not too far from Ascoli, by the Sybil mountains. Stirred by his example some from the same fraternity of the Order of Minors embraced the same kind of life, such as Brother Louis Tenaglia of Fossombrone together with his twin brother. These obtained from the Supreme Pontiff Clement VII the permission to wear the same ash colour habit of the Capuchins, but wore a tunic little rougher and shaggier with the cowl pointed at the end and sewn to the tunic without the pectoral. They also got permission to receive brothers and seculars to the same habit and in it to profess the three vows according to the practice of the Holy Roman Church, as evidenced by the Apostolic Letter of 28th May, 1526, in the third year of the pontificate of the same Clement. After the publication of this Letter, some others slowly joined them and in a short time they were twelve in number. On their counsel and similarly with their vote Brother Matthew was elected as their General, by whom the entire family was governed. It had its beginning in a place called Renacavata near Camerino in Umbria.

However in Matelica, where the chapter was being held, he was seized by John Fano the provincial of the Marshes of Ancona and thrown into prison. He stayed there for four months, exhausted with fasting and scourging. However he came out from there with the help of Lady Catherine Cibo, the Duchess of Camerino and Clement’s niece by his sister This illustrious woman supported this brotherhood very much, though not without lot of difficulty and other activity. The innovation of the habit was frowned upon and held in suspicion by the Supreme Pontiff and learned men, in as much as many societies were started with a kind of rashness or by a sudden impulse of the soul and then most of the time ended up in disgrace. Therefore time for deliberation was taken.

Meanwhile Brother Matthew was ordered to return to his own. There a little later, by the Apostolic authority of the same Pontiff, he kept the habit and that approved way of life with some companions whose old observance is collapsed, and the regular discipline of life was restored according to the norm of their Elders was restored and the original seed of piety revived.

Those who think that the founder of the Capuchins was someone other than Matthew are refuted. The discipline of his life is described. In this age of ours some men conspicuous for their knowledge say that Blessed Matthew was not the founder but a certain friar, Paul of Chioggia. I do not agree with them. This Paul was first a secular presbyter, from the noble Barbaro family.. One day he entered a certain church in Chioggia, where there was an old image of St. Francis etched on a plank with a habit not unlike the one that the Capuchins now wear. He chose for himself that habit and wearing it he lived for some time as a hermit with Brother Angelicus the Perugian from the town of Fratta in Umbria. He later died in a town of Penna di Billi at Montefeltro in a confraternity of Our Lady in a church of the Hermits of St. Augustine. However Pope Clement had not as yet approved that habit. Brother Matthew indeed went about in such habit for some years, announcing the word of God everywhere according to the need of people as circumstances and occasions required. Frugal in meals and abstaining from all pleasure, and forbidden the use of those things to which the life of men holds out, in his sermons he assiduously stressed the threats of hell. Without any doubt he was a man of blameless life in all his actions.

It is said of him, that when Charles V, King and August Emperor of Spain led great and powerful armies into Germany against Lanthgravium, Brother Matthew, undaunted and without the least hesitation due to fear of danger and warfare, carried the image of the Crucifix in front of the soldiers and encouraged them and Caesar himself, saying, “What are you afraid of, Caesar? Or what form of fear is there? Weapons do not harm Caesar armed with faith rather than with arms. Bronze cannons do not frighten him, nor does any military attack or enemy strategy.

Finally, when he had returned to Italy and was exhausted with work and age he died in Venice in the house of Lord Jerome Murena, a citizen of Saint Moses, in the year 1552, at sixty years of age. His body was laid in the Church of Saint Francis pf Vigna. The reputation of this man and his companions had spread to almost every part of Italy. Hence when the Order spread and had many places, it was received and revered by everyone and as we say in its proper place below the Order grew each day with a wonderful increase.

The Generals of the Capuchin Fathers I – Brother Matthew of Bascio, of whom we have already spoken, was the first General, elected in the year 1528, as Felicianus Bishop of Scala notes. Brother Louis Tenaglia of Fossombrone succeeded him, though no solemnity or election by vote was held. In Saint Euphemia in Rome, in the year 1536, the venerable Brother Bernardine of Asti was elected since he was the most suitable among his brothers. Filled with haughtiness and wanting to remain in the leadership, Brother Louis took this very badly. Stubbornly he began to plot a lot against the Congregation of fathers and the little flock. Expelled from Rome by strong adverse winds the poor little friars lived for some time at St. Lawrence Outside the Walls they led an austere life in huts, especially at Villa Albacina, not far from Fossombrone. Thus Brother Matthew was General of fifteen Friars but choosing to rather live in his simplicity, resigned from office of his own free will.

II – Brother Louis Tenaglia of Fossombrone became General with any solemnity, because he was made General not by a vote but by a verbal statement of Clement VII, the Supreme Pontiff. At that time however there were three hundred Friars in the Congregation. They met together in Rome in a general chapter held at St. Euphemia under Paul III, Supreme Pontiff.

III – Brother Bernardine of Asti, an Insubrian, a scholar and upright man, was elected in Rome, as it is said, on 24 May in the year 1536. He was a man of assiduous contemplation. From him the Capuchin Order took shape and purpose. He issued decrees, though Tenaglia objected to the election by subornation, with the help of the presiding Cardinal de Trano. However when finally the winds of confusion died down, Br. Bernardine held the office for nine years.

IV – Brother Bernardine Occhino was elected General at Florence on 24 May, 1539. However (at the urging of the evil spirit) full of pride he left not only the pious institute of the Capuchins but the Christian faith itself and became a heretic. He had been forewarned many times, and especially in Naples by a certain Spanish doctor, to come back to the embrace of Mother Church who never refuses the kindness of her heart to her children who return to her. Disposed to forgiveness she so loves mercy that she prefers it to justice. Indeed the mercy of God exalts (His) judgement. So had he returned she would have received him. However, full of arrogance and unwilling to wait, he joined the heretics. He lived and died miserably among them as a heretic in the midst of heretics and apostates.

V – Brother Francis of Iesi from the Marches was elected in Rome at Saint Nicholas on 29 May 1544. A man of deep contemplation and upright life, he governed for three years

VI – Brother Thomas Tiphernas from Umbria was a devout man of great intimate devotion towards the Blessed Virgin. He was elected in Naples on 13th May 1559. He governed the Congregation for six years. During the first triennium he very much abstained from receiving and accepting friars to the Order.

VII – Brother Evangelista of Canobio was elected at Forli on 6th June 1565. A man of holy life and shining morals, he governed for three years.

VIII – Brother Vincent Monte Olmo from the Marches was elected at Ancona on 3rd June 1568. He died in Sicily while visiting the provinces. The Province of Paris was added during his time.

IX – Brother Marius of Mercato Saraceno was elected in Rome on 3rd June 1569. He governed for six years. This man was average in learning, born rather to sing hymns than to govern. He closed down some houses because they were unsuitable for the brothers, being too far away from towns. Thus he was, at first glance, seen to deviate from somewhat from our life and relax the reins.

X – Brother Jerome of Montefiore from Umbria, was elected in Rome on 17 May, 1575. He was a learned man and conspicuous for the uprightness of his life. Since it seemed that he hesitated in many things, he suffered many tribulations, especially in Sicily. However he bore everything with great constancy and calm. He returned to the Marches of Ancona and to a quieter life.

In the general chapter Fathers discreti decided carefully to send Friars to Spain, and the first friary was in Barcelona. However by royal command the Capuchin Friars were forbidden to go further. Hence they are only in the kingdom of Catalonia.

XI – Brother John Mary of Tusa from Sicily was elected in Rome on 10 May 1581. He was a learned man, familiar with pontifical law. His life was an example to all. He often fasted, content with just bread and water. During his time the province of Saint Louis in France was added. He governed for three years. He died in Rome and was deeply mourned by all those who knew him in fraternity.

XII – Brother James was from Mercato Saraceno, where men adorned with outstanding virtues come from (as if from the Trojan horse). He was elected in Rome on 20th May 1584. He was a truly learned man and acceptable to churchmen at this time and he is still alive today in the year 1586.

APPENDIX FIVE: The Neapolitan List of Capuchin Superiors General The names of all the Capuchin Generals and when they were elected (1) The Order of Capuchin Friars began in the year 1525 when Matthew of Bascio took up the habit with the cowl. Later, with the Brief of Pope Clement VII, many Friars took this habit so that in 1526 many Friars gathered in a Hut to elect a General as the Rule requires and whom they should obey. There were only twelve vocals in memory of the twelve Companions of Father Saint Francis. There they elected as their General and superior Father Matthew of Bascio. However he remained in office a short time because he could not attend to his going to preach, as was his desire, because of the great persecutions the poor Capuchin Friars had at that time from the Zoccolanti who did everything they could to eradicate them. So, because he not able to withstand such ruin, in the same year he renounced the office together with the seals into the hands of Brother Louis of Fossombrone who had been first Definitor in that Chapter, and as the one for whom the Pope had made the brief. As soon as he had the seals, he convoked the Friars in order to celebrate the Chapter. At that Chapter they all said that he should govern until there were enough Friars who could give shape to the Order. Thus he assumed the government of the order and he defended it robustly against its adversaries. All the provincials and guardians were appointed solely on his authority. Thus he governed in this way until 1535 because many Friars had reported to His Holiness, who was Pope Paul III, that there was no organisation in the Order. Therefore he ordered Brother Louis that since many Fathers had entered the Order, that he convene a General Chapter as soon as possible and a Head be elected and shape be given the Order with canonically elected superiors.

(2) Therefore Brother Louis celebrated this Chapter in 1535. All the Fathers who were eligible as vocals assembled. The Reverend Father Bernardine of Asti was elected. He was a man of great holiness and learning. This Chapter gave shape to the Order, appointing provincials for all the provinces and guardians for all the friaries and the Constitutions were made. In short, it gave a beautifully shape to our Congregation. However Brother Louis, an ambitious man, and who believed he should be elected General, made uproar. And after the Fathers had left the Chapter he said that this election had been a subornation of the friars and was not valid. He said this to the Cardinal protector. He told this to the Pope. The Pope ordered that the Chapter be convened the following September. When it was assembled, the aforementioned Reverend Father Bernardine Asti was confirmed unanimously. When he saw this, the poor Brother Louis left our Order, angry at the Order and having obtained a brief from the Pope. Therefore this holy man governed the Order to the greatest satisfaction of everyone.

(3) In the year 1538 the Reverend Father Bernardine Asti celebrated the General Chapter. Brother Bernardine of Siena, a famous preacher was elected Vicar General. Everyone wanted to hear him. He enhanced the reputation of our Order so much that everyone praised us because we had such a leader.

In 1541 this ambitious Brother Bernardine of Siena, called the Occhino, celebrated the General Chapter. He was expert at being a hypocrite so that the good and simple Capuchin Friars confirmed him as their General again. However he could not continue for long because he was forced to show the poison of cursed Heresy that he kept in his heart and which he had brought into the Order. He didn’t learn it among us. For when the Pope called him to Rome in the beginning of the second year of this second triennium, worrying that his cursed poison may have been discovered, he left – not only the Order, but also from Holy Church and went to Geneva. His departure was such a tearful thing for us because where before the Congregation was honoured, now our poor Congregation was reduced to such that they could hardly, with effort, find bread to live on because they were all regarded as heretics. Because of this many were forced to leave and go to other Orders. This opinion was not only among men on the outside, but the Pope himself regarded them as such, and had even decided to annihilate them the Congregation completely. However god who had planted it was to help it still because the innocence of the Congregation was understood. The Cardinal Protector gave the seals to the Reverend Father Francis of Iesi and made him Commissary of the Order with instructions that the Chapter had to be convened for Pentecost the following year. The Cardinal wanted this Father to be Commissary even though Father Bernardine Asti was the first Definitor and should have been the Commissary.

(4) On the following feast of Pentecost in 1543 this Commissary Reverend Father Francis celebrated the Chapter and to the great contentment of all, he was elected Vicar General.

He was very zealous about the Rule, austere, and very well educated. Among the Zoccolanti he had become Apostolic preacher. This Father continuously were on visitation and spent some days in the monasteries and gave them sermons every day, exhorting them to perseverance and patience in our vocation. This was the help this Father gave through his example and leadership that almost straightaway God kept our Congregation on its feet when it was about to fall.

In 1546 this Reverend Father Francis Iesi celebrated the General Chapter. The aforementioned Reverend Father Bernardine Asti was elected. He had been General before Occhino.

This holy man was illustrious in the world because he was the son of the lord of a castle and among the Zoccolanti he had read all of Scotus more than twelve times. He was more illustrious in the Order because many miracles made his life illustrious among us. This holy man visited the Order with the greatest prudence and did great things in our Congregation.

In 1549 this Reverend Father Bernardine Asti celebrated the General Chapter and that Chapter confirmed him as Vicar General. Insofar as it was possible for him, he never failed to give great dignity and standing to the Order.

(5) In 1552 this Reverend Father Bernardine Asti celebrated the General Chapter and Reverend Father Eusebius Goba of Ancona was elected.

This Reverend Father was very zealous about our simplicity and poverty and reformed many little things that had been introduced into the Order, especially in the churches, such as brass lamps. He provided the way of making them in wood, which was adopted. He had all the other curiosities removed. It was said that with the support of the duke of Florence he wore the proper habit that Father Saint Francis had worn when he was adorned with the sacred stigmata. He said that on him it fitted him very well and is just like one of ours. This Reverend Father was short and hunched over, therefore it was discovered that Father Saint Francis was also short.

In 1555 this Reverend Father Eusebius of Ancona celebrated the General Chapter. He was confirmed in office and he never failed to give us every possible assistance.

(6) In 1558, as is always done and as the Rule requires, this Reverend Father Eusebius celebrated the General Chapter on the feast of Pentecost. The Reverend Father Thomas of Città di Castello was elected as Vicar General.

This Father was very prudent in his government and found himself General during the Council of Trent. This Father satisfied the entire Order very much.

In 1561 this Reverend Father Thomas celebrated the General Chapter on the feast of Pentecost. He was confirmed in office and continued to fulfil it with all solicitude.

(7) In 1564 the Reverend Father General, brother Thomas, celebrated the General Chapter on the feast of Pentecost. The Reverend Father Evangelista Cannobio was elected. He was a man of letters and very practical in matters of the Order. So he visited the entire Order.

(8) The Reverend Father Evangelista of Cannobio fro the province of Milan celebrated the General Chapter in 1567. However because this Father was not very rigorous but all affection he was not re-elected. However in his place the Reverend Father Marius of Mercato Saraceno was elected as Vicar General. He had come form the Augustinian Order.

This Reverend Father was very prudent and very satisfactory not only for the Order, but also for all the church and secular superiors. One cannot say just how humble and loving this Father was. He won the heart of everyone with his dealings and his speech.

(9) In 1573 this Reverend Father Marius of Mercato Saraceno celebrated the General Chapter in Ancona on the feast of Pentecost. Because he had finished his sexennium the Reverend Father Vincent of Monte del Olmo was elected as Vicar General to the contentment of everyone. He was a very austere man and zealous about the true observance of the Rule and everyone looked forward to great good from him. However the Lord want to take him to Himself after a short time because he died during the Lent of the first year of his first Generalate to the great sadness of the good and zealous Friars. The Reverend Father Jerome of Montefiore (who had been procurator at the Roman court) remained as Commissary General. According to the ordinance the Chapter had to be celebrated on the following feast of Pentecost for the election of a new General. However the Fathers advised that he should defer it until the next Pentecost, since Gregory XIII celebrated the holy year in 1575. So this is what he did.

(10) The Commissary Reverend Father Jerome Montefiore celebrated the General Chapter in Rome. He was a Conventual Friar first and a public reader in Theology and was elected Vicar General.

This Father was very rigorous and austere in his life and loved and supported those who lived austerely. Throughout all the provinces he gave long sermons to the Friars, and almost always on strict poverty. He tended to humble the great and the superiors of the Order. In the General Chapter celebrated in Rome in 1578 this General, Reverend Father Jerome, was confirmed in his office.

During this time some scandals happened in Sicily and he showed himself a little too strict. Also in Rome something was happening about a new Reform that they wanted to call the Magdalens. It was discovered that he supported them although he though he was doing the right thing. However because it did not come from God, it did not have its effect. All this stemmed from too much indiscreet zeal and rigour on his part. Because of these excesses of his, when he finished his term his successor rigorously imposed penance on him with the consent of the General Chapter. He accepted all this with patience and humility.

The Constitutions were reformed during the time of this General, removing some things that could no longer be observed, such as that there should be no more than twelve Friars per monastery; that mature friars be assigned to accompany women who enter our friaries; as well as other similar things. It was allowed that provincials could give permission to keep some barrels and other things not allowed earlier, when they this was expedient. At the same time under this General they began to add some Cells to the Carcere because there weren’t many at first. There were many other things that happened at this time.

(11) This Reverend Father Jerome of Montefiore celebrated the General Chapter in Rome in 1581. Reverend Father John Mary of Tusa of Sicily was elected Vicar General. He had been the procurator at Court.

This Father was not as strict as his predecessor because in his actions he acted with good reason. So that Friars who received a penance should not complain of injustice, and so that heavy penances not be imposed on those who did not deserve them, he ordered the provincials, when they had to give a heavy penance, to observe due process and that the penance be given according to sound judgement; and that the processes be recorded for the justification of the judge. This Reverend Father visited the entire Order throughout Italy. In all the provinces where he celebrated the Chapter, he expounded the entire Rule to the Friars. Because of this many Friars wrote down his sermons and many copies of these were made for almost all the Order. This was something very useful and necessary for the Friars to know.

When he arrived at the end of his triennium to the great satisfaction of our Congregation, he retired to Rome and there he called the Fathers of the Order to the General Chapter. While some of the Friars had arrived and others were still travelling for the celebration of the General Chapter where everyone believed that he would have been re-elected he passed on to the next life, just before the Chapter. Therefore he could not celebrate this Chapter.

In this triennium the Reverend Father Francis of Milan, who was procurator at Court, and the past General Reverend Father Jerome Montefiore died at the same time.

(12) In 1584 the Definitors who remained form the previous Chapter celebrated the Chapter on the feast of Pentecost in Rome. The Reverend Father James of Mercato Saraceno was elected as General. He was the Provincial of the province of Bologna. He was a man of good life and friendly and timid nature and wanted to console everyone. This Father died on the second last day of the year in the third year of his triennium in Genoa while he was visiting that Province. He had wanted to retire to Rome to celebrate the General Chapter on the following Pentecost, which was his time. The Reverend Father Apollonius of Brescia remained as Commissary General. He was a very prudent man in his government of the Friars.

(13) This Reverend Father General celebrated the General Chapter in 1587. The Reverend Father Jerome of Polizzi from Sicily was elected as Vicar General. He had been procurator of Court. Also it was ordered that the office of General, thus his time of government, last six years.

(14) In 1593 when that General Father Jerome had convoked that Chapter, the Reverend Father Silvester of Monteleone, from Calabria, was elected. It was ordered that the office of General be reduced again to what it had been, a term of three years as the Rule requires.

(15) This Father Silvester celebrated the General Chapter on the feast of Pentecost in Rome in 1596. By order of His Holiness, it was ordered that when the Father General finished his triennium he could not be re-elected. Therefore the Reverend Father Jerome of Sorbo, a Neoplitan, was elected as General. Two years earlier he had adjusted and enlarged the compendium of privileges of the friars Minor from Clement VII until Clement VIII.