Mother, I come from the turmoil of life, I am exhausted,

body and soul. It is hard to accept peacefully what happens

around us in a day of work and struggle. The things we had
put so much hope in betray us. People to whom we wish to
WHEN I AM be kind resist us. And those from whom we seek help try to
take advantage of us. 
WEARY This is why I come to you, Mother, because deep inside me
lives an insecure child. But close to you I feel strong and
IGNACIO full of confidence. Only the thought of having a mother
such as you gives me courage. I feel that your arm supports
LARRAÑAGA me and that your hand guides me. I can thus continue on
my way undisturbed.
Renew me entirely, so that I may see the beauty of life. Lift
me so that I may walk without fear. Give me your hand so
that I may always find my way. Bless me so that my
presence in the world may be a sign of your blessing.
Amen.
THE ROLE AND SIGNIFICANT
WOMEN IN THE CAPUCHIN REFORM
(The Blessed Virgin Mary, Catherina Cibo, Victoria Colonna)
Following the example of the noble affection Brother Francis had for Sister Claire, may our
conduct toward women be conspicuous by its courtesy, respect, and sense of justice as we
promote their dignity and mission in society and in the church.

- Capuchin Constitution 173:4

 BLESSED VIRGIN MARY
According to a pious legend, in one of the visions of St. Francis he saw a friar trying to
reach Christ by a ladder that was re and very steep. After climbing a few rungs, they
would suddenly fall back. Our Lord then showed St. Francis another ladder, white and
much less steep, at whose summit appeared the Blessed Virgin, and He said to Francis:
“Advise your sons to go by the ladder of My Mother.”
 BLESSED VIRGIN MARY
• Mary has always held a special place of honor in St. Francis of Assisi’s life, right next to
Jesus. She is there from the very beginning in the development of Francis’ own vocation and
in the beginnings of the Order. Along with Jesus, Mary became the model according to
which the Franciscan life was to be formed. Francis and Clare contemplated Mary, along
with Jesus, as a help to becoming the kind of saints God called them to be. Prayers and
devotion to Mary are meant to lead each one to a similar contemplation and consequent
formation of the Franciscan life.
 BLESSED VIRGIN MARY
• Mary was not merely someone he prays to with great devotion, as he in fact did, but there
she became for him someone who, through his contemplation of her helped the gospel to be
conceived in him in the way it was to be expressed in his Order.

• Mary was not merely someone he prays to with great devotion, as he in fact did, but there
she became for him someone who, through his contemplation of her helped the gospel to be
conceived in him in the way it was to be expressed in his Order.
 BLESSED VIRGIN MARY
• From the scriptures we have understood very well the important role of Mary as a Mother to
Christ, and from Christ, at the foot of the Cross, she received another mission and that is to
be the Mother of the Church.

• “Mary's function as mother of men in no way obscures or diminishes this unique

mediation of Christ, but rather shows its power. But the Blessed Virgin's salutary
influence on men originates not in any inner necessity but in the disposition of God. It
flows forth from the superabundance of the merits of Christ, rests on his mediation,
depends entirely on it and draws all its power from it. It does not hinder in any way the
immediate union of the faithful with Christ but on the contrary fosters it.” (Lumen
Gentium)
 BLESSED VIRGIN MARY
• As a mother this does not imply superiority, but it implies the life-giving role of Mary to the
Church which flows from her “fiat”. Her willing submission to become an instrument of
God in fullness and without reservation. Her role as mother did not stop with Christ, but it
was just a beginning of greater task in the entire plan of salvation.
 BLESSED VIRGIN MARY
• Most of the Franciscan saints have a special devotion to Our Lady. On the Capuchin saints and
blessed, from St. Felix of Cantalice to St. Pio of Pietrelcina , all have a deep devotion to the
Blessed Mother of God. For instance, St. Felix of Cantalice, he has also a life of contemplative
prayer, spending countless hours absorbed in meditation, in devotion to Our Lady, or spending
hours before the Blessed Sacrament. All who knew him regarded him as a most devout, holy man.
• Padre Pio, his love to our Lady was so profound, once he said: “I have prayed and will pray to my
dear Angel to invite the sinners of the whole world to love Our Lady.” Blessed Virgin and she has
been integral to their Franciscan spirituality.
• A Franciscan with an ardent love for the Blessed Mother of God is not far and very evident in the
life of St. Lawrence of Brindisi. For him he attributes his blessings, learnings especially in
languages that he uses in grasping the point of the bible and his very life to the Blessed Mother of
God.
 BLESSED VIRGIN MARY
• As a Capuchin Franciscan, brothers must also have an authentic love and devotion to the
Blessed Mother, which should not be reduced only by our pious rituals. The devotion to
Mary must not be a mere decoration or something that would add up to the festivities, but
the love for her must lead each one to contemplate on Christ. Pope Paul VI in his apostolic
exhortation said that, “Devotion to the Mother of the Lord becomes for the faithful an
opportunity for growing in divine grace… for it is impossible to honor her who is "full of
grace" (Lk. 1:28) without thereby honoring in oneself the state of grace, which is friendship
with God, communion with Him and the indwelling of the Holy Spirit.”
THE ROLE AND SIGNIFICANT
WOMEN IN THE CAPUCHIN REFORM
(The Blessed Virgin Mary, Catherina Cibo, Victoria Colonna)
 CATHERINA CIBO
About
• Born on September 13, 1501 – Died on February 17, 1557.
• Married to John Mary Varani
• Niece of Popes Leo X and Clement VII (She had a great influence in Rome)
• With her Husband they ruled the small Duchy of Camerino situated in the mountains a short
distance from Rome.
• Knew Latin, Greek and Hebrew so well that she could read the bible in its original language.
• Had a great devotion to St. Francis. This may account for the great respect she had for the
Capuchins who were striving to follow the Poverello as closely as possible.
 CATHERINA CIBO
Acquaintance with Matthew

The Duchess heard of the friars’ sanctity and self sacrifice for her people, and when the plague
was over summoned Matthew to her place.

Matthew did not ask for any earthly reward in return, but she might be able to assist him to
love God more perfectly by asking her uncle the Pope for permission for him to retire to an
obscure placr in order to observe the rule of St. Francis more exactly.
 CATHERINA CIBO
• Influence to the Capuchin

• Release Matthew from imprisonment of Fr. John of Fano, Provincial of Observant.

• Assist the Fossombrone brothers in asking permission to live the life as what Matthew
asked.
• Sheltered the three friars under her protection.
• Give letter of recommendation to the Minister General of the Conventuals.
 CATHERINA CIBO
• She gave consent to the request of Louis to live the Rule strictly and took this petition in
July 1528 to her uncle Pope at Viterbo, who willingly signed the charter of the Capuchin
Order “Religionis Zelus, on July 3, 1528, establishing them as an autonomous Order.
• She gave convent and motherly care to the founding of the Capuchin.
• Presented Louis with letter of recommendation for the Pope, Victoria Colona, and other
influential people so that he could established a convent of the Capuchins in Rome.
• Protect the Capuchins from leaving Rome. This is her last service for the fratini.
THE ROLE AND SIGNIFICANT
WOMEN IN THE CAPUCHIN REFORM
(The Blessed Virgin Mary, Catherina Cibo, Victoria Colonna)
 VICTORIA COLONNA
About
• Belonged to a family that was an ancient foe of Popes Clement VII and Paul lll.
• She was a close Friend of Catherine.
• Born at Marino in 1940 and died at Rome in 1547.
• Married to Fervante Francesco d’Avalos, Marquis of Pescara, one of the Chief Generals of
Charles V.
• Very cultured woman, after the death of her husband she devote her time to religion and
literature, becoming one of the most celebrated poetesses in Italy.
• She possessed sincere piety and a burning Zeal for the faith.
 VICTORIA COLONNA
Introduction to the Cpuchins.

• She was drawn to the Capuchin because of her admiration of and devotion to St. Francis, the
greatest poet of Italy. Without a doubt we may say that the spirit of the Capuchins attracted
her because she saw in them an instrument of reform both for the church and for the
Franciscan Order.
 VICTORIA COLONNA
• Influence to the Capuchin

• Help the brother to change the mind of Louis to have a chapter and elect a new Vicar-
General of the order. The Papal mandate Louis bidding him to convoke the chapter in 1535
under Papal obedience. Bernardine of Asti was unanimously elected as Vicar-General.
• Through her intercession, Pope Paul III issued a Brief, Cum Sicut Nobis, confirming the
election of Bernardine and forbidding anyone to wear the Capuchin habit unless he was
under obedience to Bernardine and his successors.
• Change the mind of the emperor after hearing from her about the Capuchin. Instead of
denouncing them to the Pope he recommended their cause.
 VICTORIA COLONNA
• Influence to the Capuchin

• Intervened to the new demand of Louis to convoke a chapter. And one of the result of this
Chapter was that Louis was expelled from the Capuchin Order and finally excommunicated.
• Defend the Capuchin to the Cardinals against the opposition of the Observants. She told the
Cardinals to investigate the life of the Capuchin and to see for themselves how humble and
devoted they were in all their good works.
 VICTORIA COLONNA
• Influence to the Capuchin

• She refuted the alleged charges against the Capuchin.

1. That the Capuchins were Lutherans because they preached liberty of the spirit.
2. That they subjected themselves to the local bishops.
3. That they lacked approbation of the Holy See.
4. That they refused obedience to the General Minister.
5. That they wore habit different from that worn by the body of the Franciscans
6. That they received Observants into their congregation.
 VICTORIA COLONNA
• Influence to the Capuchin

• She write in her letter her dislike to Quinones,bishop protector of the Observant.
• He vent his hatred to the Capuchins because they exposed so clearly the defects of his Order.

• When Quinones tried to prevent the Capuchins by law from receiving observants, she wrote
to her Cardinal Friends
• Not all who came were received, but only the most fervent; many observants leave Religion
entirely and not a word about scandal is heard; but if only one of them becomes a Capuchin then
there is pandemonium.
 VICTORIA COLONNA
• Influence to the Capuchin

• The outcome of Victoria’s letter was the Bull, Exponi Vobis, Issued by Pope Paul III on
August 25, 1536, in which he confirmed and extended the privileges granted by Clement VII
in Religionis Zelus.
• Pope Paul also placed the Capuchins under the Jurisdiction of the General of the
Conventuals, thus exempting them from the Jurisdiction of the Observants.

• But her service wane during the time of Bernardine Ochino, but she never abandon the
friars.
• The Capuchin must be thankful to this two women – Catherine Cibo and Victoria Colonna
that their Order still flourishes today. Who knows what would have happened to the
Capuchin Reform had not Divine Providence raised up this two valiant women – women
who saw the fight to the finish and who mothered the Reform against opposition from
Popes, Cardinals, and Emperor, a Provincial, and a powerful Religious Order.
  
O Mary, Virgin most powerful and Mother of mercy, Queen of Heaven and Refuge of
sinners, we consecrate ourselves to thine Immaculate Heart.
We consecrate to thee our very being and our whole life; all that we have, all that we
love, all that we are. To thee we give our bodies, our hearts and our souls; to thee we
give our homes, our families, our country.
We desire that all that is in us and around us may belong to thee, and may share in the
benefits of thy motherly benediction. And that this act of consecration may be truly
efficacious and lasting, we renew this day at thy feet the promises of our Baptism and
our first Holy Communion.
CONSECRATION We pledge ourselves to profess courageously and at all times the truths of our holy
TO MARY Faith, and to live as befits Catholics who are duly submissive to all the directions of
the Pope and the Bishops in communion with him.
We pledge ourselves to keep the commandments of God and His Church, in particular
to keep holy the Lord's Day.
We likewise pledge ourselves to make the consoling practices of the Christian religion,
and above all, Holy Communion, an integral part of our lives, in so far as we shall be
able so to do.
Finally, we promise thee, O glorious Mother of God and loving Mother of men, to
devote ourselves whole-heartedly to the service of thy blessed cult, in order to hasten
and assure, through the sovereignty of thine Immaculate Heart, the coming of the
kingdom of the Sacred Heart of thine adorable Son, in our own hearts and in those of
all men, in our country and in all the world, as in heaven. so on earth. Amen.
THE ROLE AND SIGNIFICANT
WOMEN IN THE CAPUCHIN REFORM
(The Blessed Virgin Mary, Catherina Cibo, Victoria Colonna)