Our history
Capuchin Franciscans came into being in the 16th-century, when a group of Franciscans were called to reform what had become of the Franciscan order. We also looked different, wearing brown habits with large hoods. This meant that we began being called cappucio, after the Italian word for “hood”. To this day, you can spot a Capuchin Franciscan because of our distinctive habit.
St Francis of Assisi
St Francis, the founder of the Franciscan orders, was born in the Italian town of Assisi in 1181 or 1182. His mother named him Giovanni Bernadone. His father, who was a wealthy cloth merchant and travelling when he was born, returned from a trip abroad and decided that he preferred the name Francesco.
Francesco’s wealth made him popular. But by his mid-twenties, he realised that his “friends” were not friends at all, but rather more interested in his money. He decided that this was preventing him from living an authentic life, so he gave up everything he had. He wanted to live out the Gospel in a simple way. At first, he was ridiculed by those who used to be his friends, until they saw his love for God and for creation. They then began to follow him in his way of life.
Francesco sought permission from the Pope to approve their way of life as a religious community. In 1209 this was granted, and they were known as the Order of the Friars Minor. This literally means the “lesser brothers”, because they chose to live with less. By the time Francesco died in 1226, there were communities of his followers all across Europe. St Clare of Assisi, who was a follower of his way of life, founded the Poor Clares not long after.
From being known as “il poverello” the little poor man, he became recognised as a saint, and is now one of the most known and greatest saints in Catholic history.
“We turn to you, Francis, and we ask you: Teach us to remain before the cross, to let the crucified Christ gaze upon us, to let ourselves be forgiven, and recreated by his love.”
Pope Francis
The Capuchin Franciscans
The Capuchin Franciscan Order came about in the 16th-century, when some Franciscan friars wanted a life that was more focused on prayer and more strictly followed the vow of poverty. This idea grew and was given official approval by the pope in 1528. Today we are an independent order within the Franciscan family.
This change came about through individuals such as Matteo Bassi. He felt called to a way of life away from possessions and spent his life as a hermit. He lived a very frugal life, wearing the habit (“capuce”) that St Francis would have worn and living away from the community. He didn’t even wear shoes! Matteo and his group of followers were seen as a radical off-shoot of the Franciscan order and it was not expected that their way of life would gain traction among the existing order of the Friars Minor. They were even denounced as heretics!
Matteo Bassi and his followers finally became a part of the Franciscan family in 1543. Since then, the Capuchin Franciscan reputation has grown, making us known as truly poor men who live to preach the Gospel. Our way of life spread throughout Europe and then the world. There were, at one point, 33,000 Capuchin Friars. Nowadays there are around 10,500 brothers in 1600 friaries around the world.
“Our labour here is brief, but the reward is eternal. Do not be disturbed by the clamour of the world, which passes like a shadow.”
St Clare of Assisi
The future of the Capuchins
The Capuchin order is changing all the time. We are called to create communities where we can serve the poorest in society. This means that we can be asked to move anywhere around the world to serve communities that need our help. It also means that brothers from other provinces have come to join and assist within the Province of Great Britain.
At the moment, a number of brothers from Indian and Polish Provinces have joined or are joining communities here. This helps to better serve the communities near our friaries and parishes.
Keep an eye on the news page, or sign up to our newsletter below to keep up to date with how our work is developing.
“My past, O Lord, to your mercy; my present, to your love; my future to your providence.”
St Padre Pio