The Franciscan Institute Medal

THE FRANCISCAN INSTITUTE MEDAL The Franciscan Institute inaugurated the Franciscan Institute Medal award in 1987. Its purpose was to honor those who have made "outstanding contributions to scholarship in Franciscan Studies: philosophy, theology, history, spirituality." The medal itself was designed by Mr. Hugh J. Brown of Bethesda, Maryland and cast by Creed Rosary Co. of North Attleboro, Massachusetts. The silver medallion bears the legend "Scholarship in Franciscan Studies" and the effigies in bas-relief of four great Franciscan teachers: St. Anthony of Padua, St. Bonaventure, Bl. John Duns Scotus and William of Ockham. The name of the honorée and the year of the award completes the circle of the four doctors. The reverse side of the medal bears the seal of the Franciscan Institute, the Tau-cross-signature of St. Francis, and the Institute motto "Spirit and Life." The first recipient of The Franciscan Institute Medal was Fr. Joseph C. Wey, C.S.B. For twelve years he served as superior general of the Congregation of St. Basil whose members have long been closely associated with the Pontifical Institute of Mediaeval Studies in Toronto, Canada. In his critical editions of Ockham's Quodlibets and a long question On the Interconnectedness of the Virtues, Wey made important contributions to the Opera Theologica oí William of Ockham. He frequently assisted the scholars of the Franciscan Institute by providing detailed analyses regarding the dates and provenance of many manuscripts used in the process of editing. Wey subsequently published a critical edition of Walter Chatton's prologue to Peter Lombard's Sentences. Fr. Allan B. Wolter, O.F.M., was the recipient of the medal in 1988. He was closely associated with The Franciscan Institute in its early years, having taught here on a part-time basis from 19461961 . Subsequently, he was professor of philosophy at the Catholic University of America from 1961-1983. Allan Wolter is unquestionably one of the world's most knowledgeable experts on the thought of John Duns Scotus and he has provided Enghsh translations of the considerable portions of the Subtle Doctor's works, as is amply testified to by his bibliography. Since 1983, Wolter has continued 148GIRARDJ. ETZKORN his exceptional pace of academic activity from his retiro at the Old Mission in Santa Barbara, California. The third recipient of The Franciscan Institute Medal was Fr. Servus Gieben, O.F.M. Cap. Fr. Gieben has been associated with the Capuchin Institute of History in Rome since 1953, first as resident fellow and subsequently as its director and curator of the renowned Franciscan Museum. His works on the life and writings of Robert Grosseteste have won the acclaim of medievalists on both sides of the Atlantic. His pioneering studies on Franciscan art and iconography have aroused interest in a previously neglected area. Fr. Servus's contribution to the history of the lay Franciscan movement has assisted Secular Franciscans in rediscovering the original inspiration of their branch of the Franciscan family. Fr. Lino Cañedo, O.F.M., was selected to be honored as the recipient of The Franciscan Institute Medal in 1990. In 1940, Cañedo was appointed director of the Cardinal Cisneros Center for Franciscan research in Madrid. From 1940-1947, he supervised the reconstruction of the center which had been destroyed during the Spanish Civil War and also during this period he edited the Archivo Ibero-Americano. Subsequently, he did extensive research on the history of Franciscan missionary activity in the Americas. From 1952 to 1987, he was a member of the Academy of American Franciscan History in Washington, D. C. During those years he authored twenty books and some 150 journal articles centering principaUy on the Franciscan contribution to the evangelization of the Americas, while likewise serving as visiting professor at the Franciscan Institute, the University of Puerto Rico, and the National University of Mexico. Each year a photograph and the academic achievements of the honorée are published in Franciscan Studies. Names of the recipients are engraved on a plaque displayed in The Franciscan Institute. The Franciscan InstituteGIRARD J. ETZKORN ...