Capuchin? What's that?

CAPPUCCINO, CAPPUCCINO!!
    The name Capuchin was first a nickname. As the Italian children of the 16th century walked behind these new friars with pointed hoods, capuches, they began to chant, "cappucino, cappucino!" This playful children's name evantually became the formal name of what is now the fourth largest religious Order in the church. Later the popular friars' Order became the name of a trendy coffee and a South American monkey.

FRIARS MINOR
    But what is a Capuchin?  First, a Capuchin is a Franciscan. Capuchins are a 16th century reform of the Franciscan Order, recognized by the Church as a legitimate branch of the Order of Friars Minor founded by Saint Francis of Assisi.

    The name given the Order by Saint Francis-Friars Minor-tells us two key things about Franciscan and Capuchin identity. Friar means brother. Franciscans are brothers. In his Testament, Saint Francis described his vocation and said, "the Lord gave me brothers." A Capuchin lives with his brother Capuchins. The brothers pray together, eat together, work together for the Church and share together the joys and sorrows of life. A Capuchin living alone would be an anomaly, not true to the essence of his Franciscan identity. Capuchins share all that they earn and they share daily life in community.

LITTLE BROTHERS
     Minor connotes littleness or humility. Thus, Capuchins are to be "little brothers" both to one another andto all. A true Capuchin will act not as a superior, master or teacher to others, but as an equal, as a brother. Perhaps he will even come across as less than others, lower and humble. At a recent meeting when friars of various ages were asked what attracted them to be Capuchins, many stories were told of meeting a Capuchin who seemed approachable, humble and concerned about others.

CAPUCHIN REFORM
     What are some other characteristics of a true Capuchin?  The Capuchin reform started when a group of friars wanted to live a more radical life of prayer and contemplation. Capuchins are missionaries and hard workers in the Lord's vineyard, but Capuchins are also a contemplative Order and it is a Capuchin's duty and identity to spend significant time alone in silence with God.

     A Capuchin is a man of the Church. Saint Francis insisted that his brothers be "thoroughly Catholic" and that they celebrate liturgy according to the norms of the Church. There was no place in Francis' Order for men who challenged, criticized and disobeyed the Church or its bishops. The Capuchin reform began just after the Protestant reformation and the early Capuchins were leaders in the Counter Reformation, helping the Church to ' respond to the need for reform and new' energy. Capuchins became the great missionaries taking the gospel to the ends of the earth, with a special focus on reunion between eastern and western Christian churches.

A Capuchin is a man of the church, who lives a humble, poor life with his brothers.

Some Frequently Asked Questions

Q. What's the difference between a "Capuchin" Franciscan and a regular Franciscan?
A. Capuchin Franciscans are regular Franciscans..they are part of the family of "Friars Minor" founded by St. Francis of Assisi.

Q. How many kinds of Franciscans are there anyway?
A. Only God knows how many kinds of Franciscans there are. We do know, however, that there are three within the First Order of St. Francis: the Franciscans of the Leonine Union (or "Order of Friars Minor" whose initials are "O.F.M."); the Conventual Franciscans (or "Order of Friars Minor Conventual" whose initials are "O.F.M.Conv.") and the Capuchin Franciscans (or "Order of Friars Minor Capuchin" who put "O.F.M.Cap." after their name)

Q. What does "Capuchin" mean?
A. The word "Capuchin" apparently came from the Italian word for "hood." The first Capuchins were mocked for their long pointed hoods, being called "Scappuccini"; eventually, it became "Cappuccini," which was "Capucin" in French and came into English as "Capuchin."

Q. If I join the Capuchins in California, could I be stationed anywhere in the world there are Capuchins?
A. In theory, any Capuchin friar could be stationed anywhere in the world where the friars have established themsleves, but in practice, the friars tend to be stationed within the confines of their own jurisdiction. St. Francis used to say, "The world is my cloister!"

Q. How many "Provinces" are there?
A. There are enough provinces in the world to contain the the friars who belong to them. At present there are six Provinces in North America with around 1000 friars all together. There are about 11,000 Capuchins world-wide.

Q. Can a Capuchin become a bishop?
A. Capuchin Franciscan friars can become members of the Church's hierarchy. In the U.S., the Archbishop of Denver, CO, (Archbishop Charles Chaput) and the Bishop of Fall River, MA, (Bishop Sean O'Malley) are Capuchins.

Q. How long does it take to become a "full-fledged" Capuchin?
A. In a sense, one never becomes a full-fledged Capuchin Franciscan friar because formation is an on-going process. From the first stage of initiation to perpetual pofession of vows takes anywhere from five to ten years in most cases.

Q. Do I need a college degree to be a Capuchin?
A. One does not need a college to join the Capuchins, though many ministries which the friars are engaged in would require some college education.

Q. Do I have to be a Catholic to be a Capuchin?
A. Only practicing Catholics are considered for membership in the fraternity.

Q. Do I have to be a man to be a Capuchin, or can women join too?
A. Only men can become Capuchin Franciscan friars. There is an order of Capuchin Poor Clare nuns who belong to the second Order of St. Francis, and there are communities of Capuchin Franciscan Sisters who belong to the Third Order of St. Francis.

Q. Is celebacy trying or lonely?
A. Celibacy can be very trying and it can be lonely. Living in community helps celibates to overcome loneliness and prayer and work can help make celibacy less trying. Celibacy for the sake of the Kingdom is a gift from God who provides the graces necessary to lead a celibate life.

Q. Do vows of poverty mean you cannot own anything? How do you pay for stuff?
A. According to the show "Nunsense," poverty means you can have anything...you just can't own it. Seriously, our vow is based on our trust on God's providence which can best be seen by living simply, and always having a "preferencial option" for the poor. Practically speaking, we share what we have and ask for what we need.

Q. Does the vow of obedience mean you have to do what your told or else?
A. Obedience means that you must follow the directions of your religious superiors as the expression of God's will for you unless those directions violate one's conscience. As we pray when we recite the Lord's prayer, "Thy kingdom come, thy will be done.."

Several friars answered questions about their way of life...