The Capuchin Friars Minor is an autonomous branch of the first Franciscan Order, the other branches being the Friars Minor (also known as Observants or Recollects) and the Conventual Friars Minor. This division of the first Franciscan Order has come about by reason of various reforms. The Observants were a reform which separated from the Conventuals, and the Capuchins are a reform of the Observants.
The Capuchin reform dates from 1525. it had its origin in the Italian provinces of Marches, as elsewhere, were divided into two families: the Conventuals and the Observants. The dividing line between the two families was their adhesion to the primitive ideals of Franciscan poverty and simplicity. The Conventuals accepted revenues by papal dispensation; the Observants refused fixed revenues and lived by casual alms. At least such was the principle, but in practice the Observants had caome themselves to relax the principle under various legal devices. Hence, it is the Observants themselves, after breaking away from the Conventuals, who gave rise to various reforms which aimed at a more perfect return to the primitive type. In this way the Capuchin reform took its origin from among the Obsservants of the marches.
The leader of the Capuchin reform was father Matteo di Bassi, a member of the Observant community in the Diocese of Fermo, Italy. It is said that while in preayer Fr. Matteo heard a voice that for three times admonished him, saying: “Observe the Rule to the Letter”. Fr. Matteo at once set out for rome to get the Pope’s approval for the reform. The aspiration to observe the rule to the letter was the one compelling motive of the reform, and that the taking of the habit with the long pointed hood (in Italian called capuccio hence, the word cappuccino and capuchin) was a symbol of this aspiration. The habit in this Franciscan habit, while the habit with the cappa and small rounded hood was held by many to be an innovation introduced with the spirit of relaxation.
On May 18, 1526, Matteo de Bassi, together with some companions, received the Brief “Ex parte vestra” whereby Pope Clement VII formally allowed them to separate from the community of the Observants and live in hermitages, though they were still considered to belong to the Observant family. On July 3, 1528, owing to the continued opposition of the observants superiors, Clement VII, by the Bull “Religious zellus” released them from their obedience to the Observants and constituted them a distict family of the Order.
The Capuchins, together with the Jesuits, were known to be the most effective preachers and missionaries of the 16th and 17th centuries, The privilege granted by the Pope to Matteo di bassi was not only to observe the Rule of St. Francis in its primitive simplicity, but also to go about preaching the Word of God. It is to be noted that the method of their apostolate was also thoroughly in accord with what the early legends of the Order tell us about St. Francis’ method. In their preaching they eschewed artificial oratory and set forth their message with simplicity and directness which came from the heart, and perhaps what most endeared them to the people, and gave them that singular power with all classes to which the history of the times bear qitness, was their all emnbracing charity.
By way of distinction from other religious, the Capuchin friars in most countries append the “O.M. Cap.” (Ordinis Minorum) after their names. In England and Ireland “O.S.F.C.” (Ordinis Sancti Francisci, Capuchinorum) is used.
