Have you ever heard about the Capuchin monks? I am sure many of you know them, but for those who don’t, read on…
The Founder -Â Saint Francis of Assisi
St. Francis Assisi founded the Order of Friars Minor, inspired by his visions from God and the Gospel message he heard in 1208 while attending Mass on St. Matthias’ day which formed the basis of the Order. It goes like this: And as you go, preach the message, ‘The kingdom of heaven is at hand.’ Cure the sick, raise the dead, cleanse the lepers, cast out devils. Freely you have received, freely give. Do not keep gold, silver or money in your girdles, no wallet for your journey, nor two tunics, no sandals, nor staff; for the laborer deserves his living (Matthew 10.7-10).
The Order of Friars Minor grew rapidly, and was soon sending missions beyond Italy to other countries in the Mediterranean area. The first mission to England took place in 1224. It was in the same year, in September that Francis received the stigmata, while keeping a forty-day fast at a mountain hermitage at La Verna.
Franciscan History
Francis of Assisi had a dream – indeed more than one! Clare of Assisi shared this dream of rebuilding and revivifying the church of their day. Their radical life according to the gospel altered the patterns of religious life in the Roman Catholic tradition. Religious men and women would no longer live exclusively in the monastery cloister. The world became the Franciscan cloister! The dream of Francis and Clare did not die with them. Rather it pulsed down through the centuries to this present day, nurtured by people who caught the fire of their dream and re-en-kindled it in dreams of their own.
Capuchin-Franciscans have striven to be that type of people since the founding in 1528. As a community of brothers, they hope to be the stewards and agents of renewal of the ideals of Francis and Clare today. The early Capuchins blended a life of preaching, care of the poor, contemplation and simple living. Their dream took root, and soon there were Capuchin friars spread throughout the world!
Capuchin History
The Order of Friars Minor (Franciscans), in its attempt to remain faithful to the intentions of the founder, St. Francis of Assisi, went through many difficulties in the course of its history, which led to disagreements and divisions. The three major branches of the First Order for Religious men:
The Franciscan Friars Minor
The Conventual Friars MinorÂ
The Capuchin Friars Minor
have their own organization and legal structure, but share Francis as their Father and Founder.
The Capuchins are the youngest branch, going back to 1525, when some Friars Minor in the Marches wanted to live a stricter life of prayer and poverty to be closer to the original intentions of St. Francis. Thanks to the support of the Papal Court the new branch received early recognition and grew fast, first in Italy, and since 1574 all over Europe. The name Capuchins refers to the peculiar shape of the long hood. Originally, a popular nickname, it has become the official name of the Order, which now exists in 104 countries all over the world, with around 18,000 brothers living in more than 1,800 communities (fraternities, friaries).
Simplicity, closeness to the people, a fraternal spirit in their houses and their apostolate are visible signs that mark their lifestyle, while the emphasis on penance and prayer in the life of the first Capuchins needs to be revived. Besides the Capuchin Order for Religious men, there exist many contemplative monasteries of Capuchin nuns and a multitude of religious congregations for women with the Capuchin spirit, often founded with the assistance of a Capuchin friar.
The Secular Franciscan Order for lay people is an independent organization encompassing the whole Franciscan spectrum. Franciscans, Conventuals, Capuchins and other members of the Franciscan Family give spiritual assistance to the Secular Franciscan Order. All these groups of professed religious and secular Franciscans form the Franciscan Family.
Want to learn more about the Capuchin monks? Go to The Capuchin Province of St. Francis of Assisi.
Thank you so much. One can easily mix-up the orders and the steps laid out. Good job and God bless you.