“Francis’ adherence to Christ Crucified is further developed in his sons and daughters in the span of eight centuries.”
Within the large and diverse Franciscan family, and in communion with it, we Capuchins have developed a special relationship with certain institutes of consecrated life that identify with our particular tradition, either because they were founded or accompanied by Capuchin friars and aggregated to the Order, or because of their closeness and familiarity through mission.
Our Capuchin Family, in addition to the friars present on five continents, is composed of:
– By our contemplative sisters: the Capuchin Poor Clares, the Capuchin Poor Clares of the Blessed Sacrament, the Capuchin Poor Clares of Perpetual Adoration and the Capuchin Sisters of the Third Order Regular; to whom we are united by the promise made by St. Francis to St. Clare to “give them loving care and special solicitude, as to the brothers” (cf. FVCl).
– By our religious brothers and sisters of the institutes of consecrated life aggregated to the Order (cf. can. 580) with whom we are united by the mutual recognition of a relationship of spiritual familiarity. The most numerous congregations are the Capuchin Tertiaries of Amigó, the Capuchin Tertiaries of the Holy Family, the Capuchins of Mother Rubatto, the Franciscan Missionary Sisters of the Incarnate Word, the Capuchins of the Sacred Heart, the Capuchins of the Immaculate Conception of Lourdes, the Capuchins of the Mother of the Good Shepherd, the Capuchin Missionary Sisters, and a long list of religious institutes of pontifical and diocesan right;
– From our lay brothers and sisters connected to various Capuchin-inspired ecclesial associations and movements or social institutions who feel identified with the common mission of the institutes and works of our family.
Every July 3, or on a date close to it, we want to come together to experience Capuchin Family Day, the purpose of which is to foster as a spiritual family, a spirit of belonging, collaboration and coming together for all its members both at the general level and at the local and regional levels.
This year’s Capuchin Family Day is celebrated in the context of the Ordinary Jubilee of 2025, the 800th anniversary of St. Francis’ Canticle of the Creatures, and the journey toward the celebration of the 500th anniversary of the Capuchin Reform.
We propose that the way to celebrate this year’s 9th Capuchin Family Day will be through a pilgrimage of the local Capuchin Family to a jubilee church, while meditating on being “pilgrims of hope” in the light of the Canticle of the Creatures and in the spirituality of our reform. We invite you to plan this initiative in each of your circumscriptions and fraternities to celebrate together the grace of our charism.
Our Capuchin spiritual family, in communion with the greater Franciscan family and the whole Church, feels invited to give thanks to God for our common history. In our fraternal bond, we strive to help each other live the present with greater passion. And we desire the power of the Holy Spirit to embrace our future with hope.
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