General History of the Franciscan Institute

GENERAL HISTORY OF THE FRANCISCAN INSTITUTE1 The Franciscan Institute at St. Bonaventure University (N.Y.) U.S.A. This Institute began from the special studies on Franciscan materials at the Seminary and College (now University) of St. Bonaventure in the State of New York, U.S.A. Already from 1930, the fathers of this school were accustomed to give special courses or conferences on Franciscan theology, philosophy, or history, during the course of the year and especially during vacation. A little later this study-center [studium] received the special recognition of the Middle States Association, which exercises the highest authority in matters of education, and became a faculty of St. Bonaventure University, conferring, on both ecclesiastics and laymen, the doctorate in philosophy and other higher academic degrees. The first doctoral dissertation was published under the title St. Bonaventuras Reductio Artium ad Theologiam, in 1939, edited by Sister Emma Thérèse Healy, S.S. Jos. This study-center found a new impetus in the arrival of Fr. Philotheus Boehner, O.F.M., in 1939. Endowed with true seraphic spirit and devotion, and with a singularly sharp mind and seemingly universal knowledge, Fr. Philotheus devoted himself wholeheartedly to Franciscan studies, dividing the material into four parts, namely Franciscan philosophy, history, missiology, and spirituality. Then, in 1942 this Institute was duly recognized by letters patent of Very Reverend Father Mathias Faust, delegate general for North America,2 and afterwards, in 1948, it was 1 The author acknowledges with appreciation the valuable assistance of Fr. Antonio Mbuyi, O.F.M., archivist of the general curia of the Friars Minor in Rome; Fr. Vincent B. Grogan, O.F.M., assistant archivist of Holy Name Province in New York; and Lorraine Welsh, assistant archivist of St. Bonaventure University. 2 Mathias Faust (1879-1956) was minister provincial of Holy Name Province, the New York province which operated St. Bonaventure College, from 1919-25, and again from 1931-37. In the time of this history he was custos of the province, 1937-42; 8 CONRAD HARKINS, O.F.M. declared a Studium generale of the Order of Friars Minor by the supreme government of the Order.3 Such is a formal statement of Fr. Thomas Plassmann, O.F.M., then rector of Christ the King Seminary, St. Bonaventure University,4 sent with a covering letter, dated May 26, 1955, to Father Eligius Buytaert, O.F.M., then director of the Institute. The circumstances of the Institute's founding were clearly of importance to Plassmann, for he wrote: "In order to clarify this situation, I have written the enclosed account, and I ask that its contents be used whenever there is mention of the Franciscan Institute." The covering letter addressed directly the identity of the founder, a distinction for which he wished no recognition, but which he clearly considered his own. Plassmann remarked that Boehner himself had often expressed interest in knowing who was the actual founder of the Institute. Faust had somehow considered himself the founder, "although all he had to do with it was to give it recognition on the part of the Order." Rather it was he himself who was the founder: "Although I personally took care of its foundation and later promotion, I do not care to have my name mentioned at all." He did, however, wish the names of other friars who had lectured in the Institute to be remembered for their contribution. He mentioned in particular, Fr. Bertrand Campbell, Fr. Callistus Smith, Fr. Peter Biasiotto, all Friars Minor, Fr. Theodosius Foley, O.F.M. Cap., and Fr. Raphael Huber, O.F.M. Conv. As for Boehner, he "may well be called the Re-Organizer but not the Founder." He continued: "Recently, the Osservatore Romano mentioned him as the vfondatore e direttore/ of the Institute. I gave him the article and he said that he never claimed that distinction." Plassmann said that Sr. Emma Thérèse Healy's thesis on Bonaventure, completed before the arrival of Boehner, "was really the first fruit in 1939," although he, delegate general for North and Central America and adjacent islands, 1942-46, procurator general, 1946-51, and finally, delegate general for commissariats in the United States...