I Cappuccini nell'Umbria del Cinquecento (1525-1619) (review)

This is a collection of twelve presentations given at or inspired by the fourth congress of Capuchin historians sponsored, in this instance, by the Capuchin Friars Minor of Umbria held in Todi, January 20-22, 2000, and devoted to examining a unique period of the history of the fledgling Capuchin Reform.

The initial papers of Giovanni Grado Merlo, "La storia dell'Ordine in un ambito territoriale," Rita Chiacchella, "L'Umbria nel Cinquecento," and Mario Tosti, "Istituzioni ecclesiastiche e riforme religiose in Umbria nel Cinquecento," situate the Capuchins in the political, social, and religious environment of sixteenth-century Umbria. The authors carefully examine the complex tensions and problems that the Capuchins encountered because of the Protestant and Catholic Reformations, the struggles within the Franciscan Family, and the economic and social life of the Province of Umbria.

Against this background, Raimondo Michetti's study of Ludovico Jacobilli, a prolific historian and protonotary apostolic, "Ludovico Jacobili e gli Ordini religiosi dell'Umbria. Note sulla storia dei cappuccini tra XVI e XVII secolo," examines the challenges faced by religious in general and by the Capuchins in particular during this time. Michetti proposes that Jacobilli's three volumes, Vite de'santi e beati dell'Umbria, published between 1647 and 1661, offer a unique perspective on this period. Stanislao da Campagnola, "L'Umbria e i primi insediamenti cappuccini nei cronisti del Cinquecento," and Mariano D'Alatri, "Gli insediamenti cappuccini in Umbria tra Cinque e Seicento (da una inchiesta del 1650)," then proceed meticulously to list and describe the Capuchin residences in Umbria during the sixteenth century, while Vincenzo Criscuolo, "Formazione ecultura tra i cappuccini della provincia dell'Umbria tra Cinque e Seicento (1525-1619)," looks within those friaries to glean insights into the spiritual, intellectual, and cultural formation of the Umbrian Capuchins. These three authors present details which, they maintain, are frequently overlooked and suggest that they reveal insights into the strength and vibrancy of the Capuchin Reform.

In "I cappuccini nell'Umbria del Cinquecento tra predicazione e carità," Gabriele Ingegneri offers insights into what may be of the most contemporary interest as he examines the preaching and ministries of sixteenth-century Umbrian Capuchins. The first section of this lengthy article is dedicated to examining the style and content of early Capuchin preaching, insights taken from a wealth of studies devoted to the significant preachers of the time. The next two sections place the preaching of these Umbrian Capuchins in the periods before, during, and after the Council of Trent and demonstrate how the Capuchins became such a major force in the Catholic Reformation. In a somewhat abbreviated manner, Ingegneri sketches the charitable ministries of these Umbrian Capuchins toward the sick, the poor, pilgrims, the homeless, and those caught in conflicts. It is obvious that the author is restraining himself in this consideration; he, nevertheless, offers ample bibliographical footnotes to enable readers to further their research. Finally, the author focuses significant attention on Saint Joseph of Leonessa (1556-1612), who, he proposes, epitomizes all the preaching and ministerial characteristics of sixteenth-century Umbrian Capuchins.

Costanzo Cargnoni's "Santità e processi di canonizzazione di Cappuccini Umbri" examines the documents leading to the canonizations of Raniero da Borgo San Sepolcro and Joseph of Leonessa and those of the venerable Francesco da Precetto, all of whom lived and worked during this period and in the Umbrian Province. In addition to studying the sixteenth-century criteria for holiness articulated in the canonization process, Cargnoni also highlights the unique characteristics that the documents about these three men reveal.

The final article is that of Roberto Rusconi, "Dai Primordi della 'Riforma' alla Provincia dell'Ordine." It acts as the conclusion of the conference, but articulates what, in Rusconi's judgment, were the reasons for the successful future of the Capuchin Reform. As such, Rusconi's article undoubtedly provides the theme for the next academic endeavor of the Italian Capuchins.