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Brothers in Christ...
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Capuchins are men of varied
talents and interests, bound together
by the common call to express the
Gospel in all its richness. We try to
live the life of Jesus after the manner
of Saint Francis of Assist, our
founder, who wished us to be called
the order of 'friars minor', that is,
'lesser brothers.' As such we desire
the poor and humble Jesus Christ
who is brother to all. Indeed, the
underlying spirit that gives reality to
our brotherhood is none other than
the Lord Himself. He takes men, old
and young, rural and urban, thinkers
and workers, artists and mechanics,
labourers and preachers, of every
language and culture, and brings
them together. He pours into their
hearts that spirit that filled Francis
and his early brotherhood.
Brothers to each other...
Although many of the friars are
priests, all of us endeavour to live the
Gospel life together as a Franciscan
brotherhood. Being brothers to each other means loving one another
and responding to the demands of this
love is an integral part of our life that
shapes both who we are and what we
do. This call to gospel brotherhood,
lived in simplicity and joy, was
articulated by Francis in parts of the
rule of life he set out for all who
wished to join him:
And wherever any of the friars may
be and shall meet other friars, let them
all treat each other as members of one
family, and confidently make known
their needs', for if a mother loves and
cherishes her son according to the
flesh, how much
more diligently
ought everyone to
cherish and love
him who is his
brother according
to the spirit.
- St. Francis of Assisi.
Brothers to all creation...
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"Praised be You, my Lord, with all
your creatures, especially Sir
Brother Sun, who is the day and
through whom You give us light.
- St. Francis of Assisi.
Francis was deeply aware of the
beauty of the world about him.
His profound respect for nature
came from an intuition of God's
creative love which he
experienced as manifest in the
wonder of creation. We are
privileged to inherit this spirit of
brotherhood to all of creation and
strive to keep it alive today in our
actions and attitudes with regard
to contemporary ecological issues.
The First Brothers...
"People saw how the brothers rejoiced in the midst of trials and
tribulation, how zealous they were in prayer, and how they did not accept money
like other people, nor keep it when it was given them; and how they really
loved one another. Seeing all this they became convinced that the brothers were
true disciples of Jesus Christ; and with remorse in their hearts they came to
ask the brothers pardon for having previously injured and insulted them. The
brothers forgave them gladly saying: 'The Lord forgive you,' and gently
admonished them concerning their salvation.. . . .When they were all together,
joy filled their hearts, and they no longer remembered past injuries.
They were constant in prayer and in working with their hands; this they did
in order to banish idleness, the enemy of the soul. They rose at midnight and
prayed with many sighs; and each deeply loved the other and cared for him as a
mother cares for a cherished only child. Charity burned so ardently in their
hearts that it was easy to risk life itself, not only for love of Jesus Christ,
but also for the soul and body of any one of the brothers." [L3C.41.]
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