CAPDOX

The First Capuchin Constitutions of the Counter-Reformation

 The Counter-Reformation trend existed already in 1536. By 1552 the reform approach and program of the " Counter-Reformation" had consolidated.

The Capuchin General Chapter in 1546 believed that the Constitutions of 1536 needed to be adjusted and completed. This work took place in the following General Chapter of 1552.

The Capuchin Constitutions after the Council of Trent

 The General Chapter of 1575 decided to revise the Constitutions mainly to incorporate relevant material from the Decrees of the Council of Trent. The text, in Italian,  was published in 1577. A legally meticulous style, strikingly different from earlier versions of the Constitutions, is quite evident in some parts of the text.

The Constitutions of 1608 - a new era

 The Capuchins move beyond the alps - download the text here.

The Constitutions of 1536 (annotated)

The Lexicon Capuccinum (1951) points out that the text of these Constitutiones composed in the second celebration of the first General Chapter in 1536 when Bernardino d'Asti was confirmed as Vicar General. The text was lost and already in the seventeenth century there was some doubt even about their existence. However a copy, published in Naples in 1537, was found in 1926 and published by Eduardo d'Alençon in the Liber Memorialis in 1928. (The extraordinary Liber Memorialis was published to commemorate the fourth centenary of Religionis zelus.) Another copy was found in Lugano in November 1983. Published in Naples by Giovanni Sultzbach it is an original edition.

A Retorspective on the Capuchin Reform - 450 Anniversary 1528-1978

“This little collection of essays, appearing first in a special 1978 issue of Analecta OFM Cap to commemorate the 450^th anniversary of the founding of the Capuchin Franciscan Order, affords us the opportunity to reread and perhaps relearn the central issues and values of the Capuchin Franciscan reform movement. The authors each use their expertise as historians and theologians to helps us understand how and why this branch of the Franciscans, at one time nearly 35,000 strong, has been such a significant factor in Church history, the history of spirituality, missionary development, and religious reform.” (From the Introduction to The Capuchin Reform: Essays in Commemoration of its 450^th Anniversary 1528-1978 and English translation by Br. Ignatius McCormick OFM Cap of Reformatio Capuccina 1528-1978 , Numerus specialis of the Analecta OFMCap 94(1978) number 5. The translation was published by the then North American Capuchin Conference in 1983.

• The Bull Religionis zelus. Introduction to the Amended Text (Isidore Agudo) [4 pages]

• This Historical Significance of Spiritual Reform in the XVI Century (Rainald Fischer) [4 pages]

• How the Order Sprang Up and Took Root (Callisto Urbanelli) [12 pages]

• The Franciscan Significance of the Capuchin Reform in the Light of the Authentic Sources of the Spirit and Life of St. Francis (Optatus van Asseldonk) [19 pages]

• Prayer and Contemplation in the Legislation and Life of the First Capuchins (Octavian Schmucki) [11 pages]

• Bernardine of Asti. Principle Promoter of the Capuchin Reform (Costanzo Cargnoni) [10 pages]

• Saint Felix of Cantalice. One of the Fathers of the Capuchin Reform (Mariano d’Alatri) [4 pages]

• The Most High Poverty of the Capuchins as Seen in their Early Legislation and Other Ancient Sources (Lazaro Iriarte) [9 pages]

• 450 Years of Service and Witness (Melchior of Pobladura) [9 pages]

• The Capuchins and Ecclesiastical and Civil Authorities (Hilarinus of Milan) [17 pages]

• Indexes

19 September

Summary

Giovanni Croese was born in Camporosso near Ventimiglia on 27 December 1804.

On 14 October 1822 he became a tertiary in the Conventual friary st Sestri Ponente. In autumn of 1824 he fled from Sestre and was welcomed as a postulant in the Capuchin friary in Voltri. At the end of 1825 he began the novitiate year in the Capuchin friary of San Barnaba in Genoa as a lay friar. His clothing took place on 17 December. He made religious profession on 17 December 1826.

He was assigned to the friary of the Immaculate Conception in Genoa where in 1831 he became assistant questor for the countryside in the valley of Bisagno. In 1834 he was entrusted with the questing in the city. in 1840 the superiors made him "capo-sportella", the one in charge of all the quester friars.

In 1853 he complains of tiredness and is treated various times for varicose veins, something that will happen repeatedly in the following years. On 5 August 1866 Genoa is struck with cholera and Bro Francesco Maria offers his life. On 17 September 1866, he dies after three days of illness.

In 1911 his remains are transferred to the convent church from the cemetery of Staglieno. His cause was introduced in Rome on 9 August 1896. Pius XI proceeds to his beatification on 30 June 1929. John XXIII declared him saint on 9 December 1962.

Download his story here.

22 September

Summary

Lorenzo Maurizio Belvisotii was born on 5 June 1686 st Santhià (Vercelli).

In 1710 he was ordained priest. On 24 May 1716 he was clothed in the Capuchin habit and began the novitiate year in the friary at Chieri, taking the name Ignazio. After the novitiate at Chieri (1716-1717) and was in Saluzzo (1717-1721). In 1727 he was sent to the friary on Monte di Torino.

The 31 August 1731 saw him elected vicar of the fraternity and novice master at Mondoví. From 1744, released from being novive master, he was military chaplain for two years in the war with France and helped plague victims.

In 1746 returned to Monte di Torino he was questor and comfortor of the poor, as well as a sought after confessor. He spent the last two years of his life (1768-1770) in the infirmary, always ready to bless, confess and counsel. He died at midnight on 22 September 1770.

The process of his beatification began soon and on 19 March 1827 Leo XII recognised his heroic virtue. Paul VI proclaimed him blessed on 17 April 1966. John Paul II canonised him on 19 May 2002.

Download his story here.

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23 September

Summary

Francesco Forgione (padre Pio) was born in Pietrelcina on 15 May 1887. He was clothed in the Capuchin habit at Morcone in January 1903 and made final vows in January 1907. In 1908 he left the friary because of ill-health.On 10 August 1910 he was ordained priest in the cathedral of Benevento. He returned to the friary of Sant' Anna in Foggia on 17 February 1916. Then in September he was transferred to San Giovanni Rotondo and lived there for the rest of his life. On 20 september he received the stigmata.

Between 1922 and 1923 the Holy Office intervened and in 1931 removed Padre Pio's faculty to exercise any priestly ministry. In 1933 he was permited to celebrate public Masses again. In 1947 work began on the "Casa Sollievo della Sofferenza" which opened on 5 May 1956. The initiative of the Prayer Groups also began at this time. In 1960 new restrictions were imposed, only to be removed later in 1964.

On 23 September 1968, at 2.30, Padre Pio died and the stigmata disappeared.

The cause for his beatification began immediately, though it officially began on 20 March 1983. On the 21 January 1990 his process concluded. On 2 May 1999 John Paul declared him blessed and canonised him 16 June 2002.

Download his story here.

26 September

Preliminary Note:

To download the story of each of these martyrs: click on his or her name in the summary.

Summary

José Ample Alcaide was born on 3 February 1896. He received the Capuchin habit in the Capuchin province of Valencia on 7 August 1912, and the name Aurelio de Valencia. He took vows in the same month the following year and was ordained to the priesthood on 26 March 1921. From 1923 he was professor and director of the theological students of the province, as well as teacher in the diocesan seminary of Orihuela and provincial definitor.

After 18 July 1936 he was compelled to abandon the friary at Orihuela. The Marxist militia stopped him at his family home on 28 August and led him, together with thirteen other Catholics of the area, to a ravine near Foyos. He encourage the others, heard their confessions and absolved them. He was then gunned down with the others to the cry of 'Long live Christ the King!'

He is the head of the group of eleven other Capuchin friars, plus 5 Capuchin nuns, sacrificed in various places in the archdiocese of Valencia. Most religious, hunted from their friaries and convents, found refuge with their relatives, in the hope of greater safety and protection on the part of the citizens. However, many of them met with the same martyrdom, because they religious, at the hands of the local revolutionary committees or with their complicity.

Ambrosio de Benaguacil (Luis Valls Matamales) was born on 3 May 1870 and ordained to the priesthood on 22 December 1894. He was an apostle of the confessional and the pen. He was assassinated among the poor of Masagrell in the dead of night on 24 August 1936 near Algemesi, on the Valencia-Barcelona road.

Pedro de Benisa (Alejandro Mas Ginestar) was born on 13 December 1876 and ordained priest on 22 December 1900. He was the preacher in the friary at Masamagrell. After taking refuge with one of his sisters, the militia took him away on the night of 16 august 1936. He was shot on a lonely road, after offering forgiveness to his murderers.

Joaquín de Albocácer (José Ferrer Adell) was born 23 April 1879 and ordained to the priesthood on 19 December 1903. He had been a missionary for a long time in Colombia, and an apostle of the Eucharist and of the devotion of the Three Hail Marys. He was director of the Seraphic Seminary at Masamagrell. Militia men discovered him in his refuge in Rafelbufiol on 30 August 1936. He was taken to his home town and shortly after killed near Villafamés.

Modesto de Albocácer (Modesto Garda Marti) was born on 17 January 1880 and ordained 19 December 1903. He was guardian at the friary in Olleria. He was known for his great charity towards the sick and the poor. He had been a missionary in Colombia for fourteen years. After taking refuge in his home town with his brother, a preist, they were both shot together on 13 August 1936.

Germán de Carcagente (José Maria Garrigues Hernández) was born on 12 February 1895 and ordained priest on 9 February 1919. He was already professor and vice-novice master in the friary of Valencia. The revolutionaries found him in his home town and he was killed on the night of 10 August 1936.

Buenaventura da Puzól (Julio Esteve Flors), born on 9 October 1897, he was ordained 26 March 1921. He was professor of philosophy. He was assassinated on 25 September 1936 near Gilet together with his father, a brother and other Catholics of the town. They all received sacramental absolution from Buenaventura.

Santiago de Rafelbuñol (Santiago Mestre Iborra) was born on 10 April 1909 and ordained 26 March 1932. He was professor of theology in the friary at Masamagrell. He was in hiding in his home town when he learned that twenty two person, including eight of his brothers, had been imprisoned on 26 September 1936. He presented himself to the revolutionary committee in the hope to offer himself in exchange for at least some of his brothers. The offer was rejected, and he was added to the group of prisoners. They were shot in the cemetery on the night of 28 September, just for being Catholics. In this group was also the deacon Enrique de Almazona (Enrique Garcia Beltran). He was born 16 March 1913. He was imprisoned on 4 August 1936 and after a calm, even joyful wait, he was killed on 16 August in a stone quarry neat Castellón.

Three non-cleric brothers were also among the martyrs. Fidel de Puzól (Mariano Climent Sanchis) was born on 8 January 1856, and was a venerable religious of eighty years of age and from the friary of Valencia. Brutally dragged from the house of family members, he was killed near Sagunto on 28 September 1936.

Berard de Lugar Nuevo de Fenollet (José Bleda Grau) was born 23 July 1867. Tailor and questor of the friary at Orihuela, he had a great devotion to the holy names of Jesus and Mary. Dragged from his sister’s house, he was assassinated with twelve other detainees in Puerto de Benigamin on 30 August 1936.

Pacífico de Valencia (Pedro Slacedo Puchades) was born 23 February 1874. He was in the friary of Masamagrell where for many years he had carried out the office of questor to the great edification of everyone. The militia took from the home of one of his brothers, a farmer in Castellar near Valencia. His body, showing signs of torture, was later found in an irrigation canal.

Inquiries about these martyrs began in the Archdiocesan Curia of Valencia on 17 December 1956 and were open with the Congregation of Rites on 8 July 1959.

On 11 March 2001 John Paul II beatified two hundred and three martyrs of the Spanish Civil War, including this group of Capuchin Friars and Nuns.

28 September