Another moment in history ...

Brothers Alexander Joseph, Sunil Kachapally, Alexander Madathil, Santosh Peacevilla, Ansen Thattassery, Cleettus Vettiyattethuputhenveedu and Godfrey Alby, together with Brother Gandolf Wild, at the hermitage of Aquarella, Albacina. This is the site of the first Capuchin Chapter in 1529. Our Indian Brothers are preparing to embark upon new Capuchin missionary enterprises - three of the brothers will go to Ghana and four to Germany.

Our nine days together allowed us to visit many places significant in Franciscan and Capuchin history. At Assisi, thanks to the great kindness of the owner, we were able to visit the first Capuchin friary in Assisi, called then "Le Carcarelle" (not to be mistaken with the Le Carceri). Bernardino da Colpetrazzo was a member of the fraternity in this little house at one point in time. Saint Joseph of Leonessa completed his novitiate within these walls. The humble little dwelling had to be abandoned by the friars towards the end of the 16th C in favour of a more accessible little friary purpose built by the town of Assisi. Its owners have, over a number of generations, have lovingly and tastefully restored the simple monastic style of Le Carcerelle. Even today its solitude is imposing, 'far from the maddening crowd.' And the guest book shows that Le Carcerelle is still very much a place of prayer for people from many walks of life and parts of the world.

I hope to return to the Capuchin Friary (Oasi di Sant'Anna) in Asolo for the Christmas confessions and liturgy. Dating back to the 16C this Capuchin Friary is located just outside the town of Asolo.

This week ... around and about - Assisi and Milan

While on their travels, Terry and Karen Mohan, with their children Emily and Jack, spent four days here at the Capuchin International College. Together we visited both Assisi and Milan, spending a day in each place. Assisi was as beautiful as ever. Our visit focused mainly upon the Basilica's of Saint Francis, plus a few quiet little spots hidden away in the honey comb back streets. The Duomo of Milan, one walk around the roof at two levels or spend hours admiring the stained glass. The intricacy of the stone work is a marvel.

Course for Librarians and Archivists

3 - 7 September 2007 . The staff of the Capuchin Central Library conducted the seventh annual course for Librarians working in Capuchin libraries. For the first time, the course included archivists. On Tuesday morning, we had the pleasure of a guided tour through the Secret Vatican Archives. While not for beginners, the course for Archivists (which I attended) was very useful in many respects. A range of topics included the history of the Capuchin General Historical Archives as well as description of its architecture (schematization) and a thorough introduction to the physical archives themselves, housed at the Capuchin International College of Saint Lawrence of Brindisi in Rome. The archivists, and would be archivists, also received a thorough introduction to the General International Standard Archival Description or ISAD(G) and the software produced by the Italian Episcopal Conference for application to Church Historical Archives in Italy. Apart from permitting a standardisation of archival descriptions, the CEIr will also make possible a general index of the Church's patrimony in historical archives in Italy. The librarians and archivists also enjoyed some combined sessions for discussion. Of particular interest (to me at least) was the practical presentation regarding the restoration and conservation of manuscripts and other old books. Among the issues raised in the general forum: the need to raise awareness of the serious questions concerning the state of the cultural heritage of the Capuchin Fraternity, especially in jurisdictions that can no longer manage their archives and libraries. This problem is serious in places where the Fraternity is experiencing manpower shortages. In most, if not all cases, these jurisdictions are those with the longest histories. We owe it to the future to safeguard and promote these cultural and historical assets.

I trained to Broken Hill on 16 July (13 hours), arriving at 7pm in the evening, met by the parish priest of Broken Hill, Fr. Paul Clark. Thank you Fr Paul for your generous and congenial hospitality!!!

While Broken Hill is in NSW, the nearest capital city is Adelaide. The NSW border with South Australia is only a short distance from BH, which shares the same time zone with South Australia, half an hour behind Sydney.

Broken Hill (town and region) is famous for its lead, zinc and silver mines. Geologically the rocks are quite old (1.7 bn years I believe). Quite a difference in age compared to the more recent surface rocks of the Sydney Basin. While the geological history is fascinating, so is the story of the town grown up around mining. Both aspects are long stories ...

The images give some sense of the fascinating, arid desert landscape of Western NSW. July occurs in winter in the southern hemisphere. The daylight for exploration was brief, and the wind cold ... but no flies, no scorching heat.

The stay in Broken Hill was far too short since I had to return to Sydney on 20 July. So much to see and begin to understand. Three days are a good introduction. Next time, two weeks (God willing.)

In Sydney, Australia, for meetings, retreats, and a short break at the Capuchin Hermitage at Murrurundi.

Moving right along ...

Well. . .
Does the internet improve the quality of communication?

Yesterday I was attempting to read, yet again, parts of The Idea of Reform: its impact on Christian thought in the Age of the Fathers, Harper and Row, 1967 by Gerhart Burian Ladner. The style of the translation is a little heavy, unfortunately. Being a slow reader, I find the text 'viscous.'

Towards the end of the book he includes some reflections on method. Particularly interesting (for me) was his first discursus on historical certainty and the definition of reform. (What is a definition anyway?)

Translation is my work. From Italian to English. Often sixteenth century Italian. These old texts belong to another time. A translation looks at the words of a text. But the text must be understood within its 'historical' context, its milieu. The translator is also an exegete.

Getting started ....

I am particularly interested in the relationship between the Capuchin reform and Church reform in Italy up until the Council of Trent. Of course, your comments do not have to be so restricted.