Presentation of a New Translation

Bonaventure's De perfectione vitae ad sorores

As prayer is the spiritual teacher of the friars, and so that the spirit of devotion not grow cold in the friars but burn continuously and ever more intensely on the altar of their heart, and indeed just as the Seraphic Father desired that the true spiritual friar to pray always...

The substance of this passage from chapter three of the Capuchin Constitutions of 1536 recurs in all the versions of the Constitutions down to modern times prior to 1968. The Constitutions of 1968 (n.40) and 1975 (n.41) have instead:

In order to keep the spirit of prayer in us from becoming lukewarm and rather have it grow steadily in fervour, we need to apply ourselves daily to the practice of prayer.

Then in 2002, taking up the 1968 text,  the Constitutions restore the reference prayer as the spiritual teacher:

52.3 Moreover, that the spirit of prayer may never grow cold within us but be ever more inflamed from day to day, we must give ourselves to its exercise in our daily lives...

52.6 Mental prayer is the spiritual teach of the brothers who, if they are true and spiritual lesser brothers, prayer ever more interiorly.

Perhaps it could be argued that the content of this particular passage has been somewhat impoverished since 1968.


A connection exists between the earlier version of this passage and Saint Bonaventure's accommodation of the text of Leviticus 6,12-16 in De perfectione vitae ad sorores, presented here, and De sex aliis seraphim.


As one source used in the formulation of the first Capuchin Constitutions, and as an authentic work of Bonaventure, one rarely translated to English, capdox offers a new English translation completed in November 2012. Go to capdox.

General Chapter of the Capuchin Franciscan Friars

The General Chapter of the Capuchin Franciscan Friars is about to celebrated in Rome, 20 August - 22 September. Please remember the brothers in your prayer. Goto to the Chapter website.

Jerome of Molfetta and Rules for Mental Prayer

Translated by Bro. Patrick Colbourne ofm cap (July 2012)

Jerome Spinazzola of Molfetta who came from the Province of Apulia took part in the General Chapter at Santa Eufemia in Rome from 1535-1536 where he also received fifteen votes for the office of definitor. He was a Capuchin preacher and Mattia da Salò relates that “he was a tall fine man with a long red beard with the capacity to make his audience cry by his manner of speaking. He was a pupil and admirer of Bernardino Ochino, whose lot he sadly shared. Among other things, when preaching, he often promoted devotion to the “rosary of the Name of Jesus” among the people. He composed a short appealing tract on this subject and attached it to the Dialogue of Union by Bartholomew Cordoni which he republished in Milan at the beginning of 1539.

The Italian introduction, footnotes and transcription of the Ms of the Regule de la orazione mentale are by Costanzo Cargnoni OFM Cap in I Frati Cappuccini. Documenti e testimonianze del primo secolo, a cura di Costanzo Cargnoni, III/1, Edizione Frate Indovino, Perugia, 1991, pp.429-445

Go to the capdox page

Lawrence of Brindisi on Francis of Assisi

Three Sermons for the Feast of Saint Francis of Assisi, translated from the Latin.  These translations were among my very first and were translated these in 1979, then soon forgotten. Recently returned to the light of day, Capdox now presents a revised translation. An introduction is in preparation should be completed soon (once I find my notes!)

On Lawrence of Brindisi

For the three Sermons

Francis and Clare Early Documents

Francis and Clare - Early Documents, presented by The Center for Digital Theology of Saint Louis University. This material came online this week (15 June).

Links:
Francis and Clare Early Documents

You may also be interested in this new edition.

Upcoming ordination of four Capuchins to the Diaconate

Planned for 3 August 2012, the diaconate ordination of four Capuchins Brothers Ben, Dean, James and Thomas is to be celebrated in the parish of Saints Peter and Paul, South Melbourne.

Deo gratias!

Saint Felice da Cantalice

The 300° Anniversary of the Canonisation of Saint Felice da Cantalice

The General Minister of the Capuchins, Br. Mauro Johri, recently wrote a letter on the life and significance of Saint Felice da Cantalice. You can find this letter on the website of the Capuchin General Curia here or on Capdox here. For more on Saint Felice on Capdox, here.