capdox

Clement VII granted the Bull "Religionis zelus" at Viterbo, 3 July 1528. The translation here is based on the Italian translation in I Frati Cappuccini, Edizioni Frate Indovino, Perugia, 1988, vol. I, nn.1-9, edited by Br. Costanzo Cargnoni of the Capuchin Historical Institute.

Another English translation, though faulty in parts, may be found in The Round Table of Franciscan Research, 1949 reprint of volume 7(1941-1942) 110-112. The legal character of the document, especially the specialized language in paragraphs 8 and 9, makes the text difficult to interpret.

The Capuchin Constitutions of 1536 - text only

So that our Congregation, as the vineyard  of the Son of God, persevere in the spiritual observance  of the evangelical and seraphic Rule,  our General Chapter celebrated in the City of Rome at our place  in Saint Euphemia  in the year of the Lord 1536 believed it should set down some statutes as a hedge  for that Rule. Like the impregnable Tower of David it should have its fortifications  with which we may defend ourselves from all the enemies of the living spirit of our Lord Jesus Christ, and from all the compromises against the most fervent and seraphic zeal of our Father Saint Francis.  (Introduction, Constitutions of 1536)

These Constitutions, published in Naples in 1537, had been lost until 1926. They were republished in Liber Memorialis Ordinis Minorum Capuccinorum, Rome, 1928. More recently, a photographically reproduced (or anastatic) came to light in Constitutiones Ordinis Fratrum Minorum Capuccinorum saeculorum decursu promulgatae, Vol.I: Constitutiones Antiquae (1529-1643), Editio Anastatica, Rome, Capuchin General Curia, 1980, p. 35-74.

You can download a copy of the Constitutions of 1536 (text only, 249 kb) here.

The Capuchin Reform - A Franciscan Renaissance

Born Raffaele Turrado Riesco, Br. Melchiorre da Pobladura OFM Cap., (1 February 1904-19 February 1983) published the 16th century manuscript 'chronicles' of the Capuchin Reform between the years 1937 and 1955:

21 April

Summary

Johann Evangelist Birndorfer was born on 22 December 1818 at Venushof in Parzham near Passau in Bavaria. In 1832 he lost his mother and, two years later his father. In 1837 he tried to study with the Benedictines of Metten in Deggendorf but with little profit. He then entered the Franciscan Third Order and made profession on 19 May 1841. Then in 1848 he was a postulant in the Capuchin friary of Altötting. On 17 September 1851 he received the Capuchin habit as a non-cleric friar in the friary at Laufen. He made religious profession on 4 October 1852.

24 April

Summary

Markus Rey was born in Sigmaringen in the diocese of Konstanz at the beginning of October 1577. In 1601 he obtained a degree in philosophy in the Jesuit college in Breisgau. He was a student at the university of Freiburg in Breisgau from 1601 to 1604. In 1604 he accompanied a group of students to Italy. He obtained a degree in civil and church law on 7 May 1611. September 1612 saw him ordained a priest. Then on 4 October 1612 he entered the Capuchins and began his novitiate in the friary at Freiburg and made profession on 4 October 1613. From 1613 to 1618 he studied theology at Freiburg, Konstanz and Frauenfeld.

30 April

Summary

Marco Passionei was born in Urbino on 13 September 1560. On 28 May 1582 he graduated from the university of Padua with a degree in civil and church law. After about thirteen months of novitiate in the Capuchin friary in Fano, Benedetto made religious profession towards the end of May 1585. Already a priest in 1590 he was assigned to the friary in Ostra in 1598. From 1600-1602 he was missionary in Bohemia. On his return to the province he was at Fano in 1604, Jesi in 1605 and Fossombrone from 1609 to 1612.