Spirituality
The fundamental dimensions of Capuchin life
Prayer
The life of the Capuchins combines contemplation and action in a daily rhythm that wisely alternates time between contemplation and apostolic commitment. Thus, their entire life is imbued with an apostolic spirit, and all apostolic action is shaped by the spirit of prayer. Mental prayer is the spiritual teacher of the Capuchins: in the tradition of the Order, prayer is affective and heartfelt, experienced as a breath of love that arises from the motion of the Holy Spirit, listening to the voice of God speaking to the heart and leading to the intimate experience of the living God. In prayer, the Capuchin learns to move away from self-love to live in the love of Christ for the benefit of all people. Inflamed by the love of Christ, he contemplates Him in the humility of the incarnation and the cross to follow His footsteps in this world.
“Let us always build in ourselves a dwelling and a permanent abode for Him, who is the Lord God Almighty, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.” (St. Francis, Unapproved Rule, FF 61)
“Let us be wary of the malice and cunning of Satan, who wants man not to have his mind and heart turned to the Lord God.” (St. Francis, Unapproved Rule, FF 59)
“The friars should not extinguish the spirit of holy prayer and devotion, to which all other temporal things must serve.” (St. Francis, Approved Rule, FF 88).
Fraternity
The Capuchins do not live as individuals but united in fraternity. As brothers given to each other by the Lord and endowed with different gifts, they welcome each other with gratitude. Therefore, wherever they live, gathered in the name of Jesus, they are of one heart and one soul, in the constant pursuit of greater perfection. They love each other wholeheartedly, bearing each other’s faults and burdens, constantly exercising themselves in the love of God. As children of one Father, they feel brothers to all people, without any discrimination. Meeting all creatures with a fraternal spirit, they continually offer to God, the source of all good, the praise of creation. They promote authentic fraternal relationships among people and nations, so that the world may live as one family under the gaze of the Creator.
“And let each one love and nourish his brother, as a mother loves and nourishes her own child, in those things in which God will give him grace.” (St. Francis, Unapproved Rule, FF 32)
“Let each one confidently reveal his needs to the other, for if a mother nourishes and loves her own child, how much more diligently should one love and nourish his spiritual brother?” (St. Francis, Approved Rule, FF 91)
“All the friars should have no power or dominion, especially among themselves.” (St. Francis, Unapproved Rule, FF 19).
Poverty
The Capuchins live with sobriety, free from the superfluous. Like St. Francis, they are filled with wonder at the beauty of God, who is humility, patience, and meekness, manifested in the humility of the incarnation and the charity of the passion. In love with the poor and humble Christ, they embrace the choice of poverty, to follow the naked crucified Lord. The evangelical ideal of poverty led Francis to humility of heart and radical self-dispossession, compassion towards the poor and weak, and sharing in their life. In heartfelt adherence to the intuition of their founder, as pilgrims and strangers in this world, the Capuchins desire to follow the poverty of the Lord Jesus Christ in simplicity of life and joyful austerity, in diligent work, trust in Providence, and charity towards people.
“The friars should not appropriate anything, neither house, nor place, nor any other thing. And as pilgrims and strangers in this world, serving the Lord in poverty and humility, they should go for alms with confidence, and they should not be ashamed, because the Lord became poor for us in this world.” (St. Francis, Approved Rule, FF 90)
“Let us return to the Lord God Most High and Supreme all goods and recognize that all goods are His, and let us give thanks to Him for all, from whom every good proceeds. (St. Francis, Unapproved Rule, FF 49)
“Look, brothers, at the humility of God, and open your hearts before Him; humble yourselves also, so that you may be exalted by Him. Therefore, retain nothing of yourselves for yourselves, so that He who offers Himself entirely to you may receive you entirely.” (St. Francis, Letter to the Entire Order, FF 221).
Minority
The Capuchins do not wish to be above others and occupy high positions but want to be “minor,” below any hierarchy of power, far from the logic of the world, possession, power, and self-assertion. The Son of God, their model and guide, came not to be served, but to serve and give His life for the salvation of all. His humility is perpetuated in the sacrament of the Eucharist, where every day He humbles Himself, coming to men in humble appearance. Therefore, the Capuchins wish to follow the path of humility that Christ and His servant Francis have shown them. They gladly live their fraternal life with great closeness to the people and especially to the poor, sharing with great love their hardships and humble condition. While they assist with their material and spiritual needs, they strive with life, action, and word, for their human and Christian promotion.
“When I was in sin, it seemed too bitter to me to see lepers, and the Lord Himself led me among them and I showed mercy to them. And as I left them, what seemed bitter to me was changed into sweetness of soul and body. And afterwards, I lingered a little and left the world.” (Saint Francis, Testament, FF 110)
“All the brothers must strive to follow the humility and poverty of our Lord Jesus Christ… And they should be glad when they live among people of little account and despised, among the poor and weak, the sick and lepers, and among the beggars along the road.” (Saint Francis, Unapproved Rule, FF 29)
“We must never desire to be above others, but rather we must be servants and subject to every human creature for the love of God.” (Saint Francis, Letter to the Faithful, FF 199).
Proclamation of the Gospel
The first apostolate of the Capuchin friar is not to perform great, majestic, and resounding works, but to live the evangelical life in truth, simplicity, and joy in the world. The Capuchins treat everyone with esteem and respect, always offering their availability for encounter, listening, and dialogue. They desire that the Word of God be imprinted in their hearts, so that it is no longer they who live, but Christ who lives in them, and they are driven to speak out of an abundance of love. Thus, they preach Christ primarily with their lives and works, and, when it pleases the Lord, also with words. They are available for mission, to bring the proclamation of the Gospel to all people near and far, so that every person may hear the good news of the Gospel, discover themselves infinitely loved by God, and respond to God’s call by fully realizing their vocation of love.
“Since I am the servant of all, I am bound to serve all and to administer the fragrant words of my Lord.” (St. Francis, Letter to the Faithful, FF 180)
“Let all the friars preach with their works.” (St. Francis, Unapproved Rule, FF 46)
“Let us defend ourselves from the wisdom of this world and the prudence of the flesh. For the spirit of the flesh wants and cares much about possessing words, but little about putting them into practice, and seeks not the inner religiosity of the spirit, but wants and desires a religiosity that appears outwardly to men.” (St. Francis, Unapproved Rule, FF 48)