Who is a
Franciscan Capuchin? Capuchin?
What's that? CAPPUCCINO, CAPPUCCINO!! The name Capuchin was first a nickname. As the
Italian children of the 16th century walked
behind these new friars with pointed hoods,
capuches, they began to chant, "cappucino,
cappucino!" This playful children's name
evantually became the formal name of what is now
the fourth largest religious Order in the
church. Later the popular friars' Order became
the name of a trendy coffee and a South American
monkey.
FRIARS MINOR But what is a Capuchin? First, a
Capuchin is a Franciscan. Capuchins are a
16th century reform of the Franciscan Order,
recognized by the Church as a legitimate
branch of the Order of Friars Minor founded
by Saint Francis of Assisi.
The name given the Order by Saint
Francis-Friars Minor-tells us two key things
about Franciscan and Capuchin identity.
Friar means brother. Franciscans are
brothers. In his Testament, Saint Francis
described his vocation and said, "the Lord
gave me brothers." A Capuchin lives with his
brother Capuchins. The brothers pray
together, eat together, work together for
the Church and share together the joys and
sorrows of life. A Capuchin living alone
would be an anomaly, not true to the essence
of his Franciscan identity. Capuchins share
all that they earn and they share daily life
in community.
LITTLE BROTHERS
Minor connotes littleness or humility. Thus,
Capuchins are to be "little brothers" both
to one another and to all. A true Capuchin
will act not as a superior, master or
teacher to others, but as an equal, as a
brother. Perhaps he will even come across as
less than others, lower and humble. At a
recent meeting when friars of various ages
were asked what attracted them to be
Capuchins, many stories were told of meeting
a Capuchin who seemed approachable, humble
and concerned about others.
Capuchin Reform What
are some other characteristics of a true
Capuchin? The Capuchin reform started when a
group of friars wanted to live a more radical
life of prayer and contemplation. Capuchins are
missionaries and hard workers in the Lord's
vineyard, but Capuchins are also a contemplative
Order and it is a Capuchin's duty and identity
to spend significant time alone in silence with
God.
A Capuchin is a man of the Church. Saint Francis
insisted that his brothers be "thoroughly
Catholic" and that they celebrate liturgy
according to the norms of the Church. There was
no place in Francis' Order for men who
challenged, criticized and disobeyed the Church
or its bishops. The Capuchin reform began just
after the Protestant reformation and the early
Capuchins were leaders in the Counter
Reformation, helping the Church to ' respond to
the need for reform and new' energy. Capuchins
became the great missionaries taking the gospel
to the ends of the earth, with a special focus
on reunion between eastern and western Christian
churches.
A Capuchin is a man of the church, who
lives a humble, poor life with his brothers.
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NEWS/ANNOUNCEMENTS
Fr. Manohar Mervin Dsouza
Vocation Director
ST. ANNE’S FRIARY
Jail Road, Kodialbail Post, Mangalore
Karnataka - 575 003, India
Phone: 9980104579 / 9481976210
Email: mmdsouza1972@gmail.com
Capuchin?
What's that?
What
are some other characteristics of a true
Capuchin? The Capuchin reform started when a
group of friars wanted to live a more radical
life of prayer and contemplation. Capuchins are
missionaries and hard workers in the Lord's
vineyard, but Capuchins are also a contemplative
Order and it is a Capuchin's duty and identity
to spend significant time alone in silence with
God.
