EARLY

CAPUCHIN

HISTORY

 

 

Matteo di Basio can be considered as the catalyst in the founding of the Capuchin Reform. He belonged to the Friary at Montefalcone, which is in the Marches of Ancona. In 1525, he went to Rome to petition the Pope to allow him to follow the Rule more rigorously. This he was granted on the condition that he report to his Minister Provincial each year. However approval was only given orally. He was considered a fugitive and was imprisoned in the Friary and given severe penances. He was released after three months probably at the request of Caterina Cibo, Duchess of Camerino.

However, the news of his wanting to reform the Order spread and awakened the longings of other friars. Two brothers Louis and Rafael of Fossombrone wished to retire to a hermitage and requested John of Fano to release them. He refused, so they left finding temporary refuge with the Conventual Friars at Cingoli. John of Fano went to the Minister General and the Pope and John went after them with a band of Friars. The two brothers fled to the hills, and finally went to the Monastery of the Camaldolese hermits at Massaccio. A great tussle insued for the two and they were disguied as Camaldolese and moved to another Monastery.

They searched out Matteo and he introduced them to the Duchess who promised to be their protector, and they went to Rome. After some time there was a conference arranged to be held in the presence of the Duke and duchess of Camerino. John of Fano opbraided Matteo, Louis and Rafael for deserting the Family and bringing disturbance to the Communities;  and declared them fugitives and apostates of the Order. They were defended by Caterina. Fano was advised by the Abbess of the Poor Clares, Baptista Varani, the sister of the Duke, to “Refrain from these men and let them alone” quoting from the Acts of the Apostles.

 

In 1527 there came a severe plague to Camerino, Matteo and his associates willingly went to tend the plague victims. This won for them the love and respect of the people. The Duke and his Sister, the Abbess died. In the meantime Rome was sacked and the Pope captured by later escaped, and set up court at Viterbo. The Duchess went to the Pope, her Uncle and after much persistence the Pope agreed and issued the Bull “Religionis Zelus” on 3 July 1528. Thus the Order of Friars Minor Capuchins  came into existence.

 

A Chapter was held on the hilside hermiage of Albacina, and as it was so small the twelve friars had to build wattle huts. The first constitutions were written. Matteo was elected Vicar General, against his wishes, with Louis of Fossembrone, Angelo of Sant”Angelo and  Paul of Chioggia.

 

The name Capuchin comes from “Scapuccini” meaning hermits which the children called them. In Rome this was softened to Capuccini, although they wanted to call us Capuciati, indicating the larger cowl worn.

 

Matteo resigned as Vicar General after 10 days and handed over to Louis who longed for power. In 1535 a number of reform minded Observants came over to the Capuchins,including Bernardine of Asti, Francis of Jesi and even John of Fano. By 1536, there were seven hundred Capuchins.

In November 1535 Bernardino of Asti was elected Vicar general and Louis was not given a postition of authority. In the end his ambition was the caused of his being expelled from the Order. By this stage Matteo had returned to the Observants.

The successor to Bernardino of Asti was Bernardino Ochino of Siena. He was elected at the Chapter in Pentecost 1538. He was a renown preacher, but there were times when his orthodoxy of his doctrines was doubted. He and a Laybrother set out for the North of Italy in 1542, but he handed the seal of the Order to the brother to take to Bernardino of Asti, and crossed to Geneva and joined the Calvinists. It was a prave time and the Order was in danger of being suppressed but for the hard work by Francis of Jesi and Bernardino of Asti, together with Cardinal Carpi, the Cardinal Protector of the Franciscan Order.

But it was to a humble saintly Laybrother, Felix of Cantalice, that the respect for the Order was restored.