450th Anniversary 1528-1978

This little collection of essays, appearing first in a special 1978 issue of Analecta OFM Cap to commemorate the 450th anniversary of the founding of the Capuchin Franciscan Order, affords us the opportunity to re-read 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 450th Anniversary 1528-1978 an 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.

(PDF of hardcopy book available here)

Table of Contents

• Preface and Introduction
• The Bull Religionis zelus. Introduction to the Amended Text (Isidore Agudo)
• The Historical Significance of Spiritual Reform in the XVI Century (Rainald Fischer)
• How the Order Sprang Up and Took Root (Callisto Urbanelli)
• 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)
• Prayer and Contemplation in the Legislation and Life of the First Capuchins (Octavian Schmucki)
• Bernardine of Asti: Principal Promoter of the Capuchin Reform (Costanzo Cargnoni)
• Saint Felix of Cantalice. One of the Fathers of the Capuchin Reform (Mariano d’Alatri)
• The Most High Poverty of the Capuchins as Seen in their Early Legislation and Other Ancient Sources (Lazaro Iriarte)
• 450 Years of Service and Witness (Melchior of Pobladura)
• The Capuchins and Ecclesiastical and Civil Authorities (Hilarinus of Milan)