Chapter 1

ORIGINS

It was in the first days of the new year, 1525, that Father Matthew of Bascio, of the Franciscan Observants, set out from the friary of Montefalcone with the purpose of seeking an audience with the Holy Father, Clement VII, in the city of Rome, to obtain permission to live according to the strict rule of St. Francis. Pope Clement VII received him kindly and by word of mouth gave him permission to wear his new habit and to live as a hermit.

About the same time many other friars among the Observants were desirous of a return to the stricter life. Foremost among these were Louis of Fossombrone, a priest, and his brother Raphael, a lay Brother. The two went to meet Fr. Matthew on his return from Rome. The latter explained to them that he had no authority to receive companions, but enjoyed only a personal privilege of living as a hermit. Accordingly, he advised them to go to Rome as he had done. Fr. Matthew then introduced them to Caterina Cibo, the duchess of Camerino, who gave them letters of introduction to her uncle, Pope Clement VII. The Pope granted their wishes.

As other friars began to gather around them Fr. Louis who was a man of vision, bethought himself of placing his community on a firm and lasting basis. With this in view he applied to Pope Clement VII. On. 'July 3, 1528, the Pope issued the bull Religionis Zelus to Fr. Louis and Br. Raphael, establishing the "Friars Minor Hermits" or "Franciscan Hermits" as an autonomous Order, and released them completely from the jurisdiction of the Observants. Thus the Order of Capuchins was founded.

The six points that Fr. Louis had asked to have granted by the bull were the following: I That he and others be allowed to lead an eremitical life according to the rule of St. Francis; 2 that they be allowed to wear the beard: 3 that they wear a Mendicant Hermit habit with a quadrant cowl; 4 that they might accept out-of-way places in forests and on mountains and dwell there as pilgrims and strangers under the protection of the Friars Convenlllal; 5 that they might elect a superior and custos who should be to them as a provincial; 6 that they be allowed to receive religious of other Orders.

This bull is also known as the Rull of Foundation. As stated above, it was issued to Fr. Louis who therefore must be considered the founder of the Capuchin Order. He was the first superior of the small community and received Fr. Matthew into the fold.

The Capuchins, as they were popularly called, were now established with papal authority as a distinct branch of the Franciscan Order, and at once they began to figure in church history. Their trials, it is true, were not yet over, but they now had a solid footing. Because they had done heroic work among the plague-stricken in various cities in 1527, they found friends in high places who defended their cause in Rome when opposition arose.

Since many of the Observants came over to them immediately, the small community grew rapidly, and in 1529 Fr. Louis convoked the first chapter at Albacina. The friars elected a vicar general and drew up constitutions for the new Order. Fr. Matthew was elected first vicar general. After about ten days he resigned, leaving the office in the hands of Fr. Louis. His heart was set on the life of a hermit and a preacher.

For seven years Fr. Louis ruled the young community, founding new houses in many different places. In 1535 he convoked the second chapter, at Rome, where Fr. Bernardine of Asti was elected vicar general.

Under the inspired guidance of Fr. Bernardine, during the following three years, the Order waxed strong inwardly and outwardly, displayed a marvellous vitality in spreading all over Italy, and gained popularity that reminds one of the days of St. Francis himself.

In concluding this chapter one might say with Felice da Mareto: The Capuchins received the habit from Fr. Matthew, the beard from Fr. Louis, the soul and spirit from Fr. Bernardine of Asti. This expresses in concise form the founding of the Capuchin Order.