Sunday, February 9, 2014

The Spiritual legacy of our Capuchin Saints

I am always fascinated by the holy and spiritual lives our our elder brothers who lived the capuchin charism following the Gospel way of life. They have climbed the altar of God and rewarded the crown of a saint because of their faithful imitation of Christ and Francis. The early saints most of them are from Italy and if you visit their places you are automatically taken back to their times and traditions reading their story and history. The lives of our capuchin brothers is for all of us to imitate and live the capuchin commitment in todays troubled world. All of them were passionately in love with St. Francis and his rule and the Constitutions. They all have left for us a legacy which we all can follow provided we are willing to walk the path of holiness and interiority.
One such Brother of ours is St. Bernado da Corleone, Palermo. A wonderful simple and humble capuchin who captured the imagination and lives of all the people by just living a humble capuchin life. There are many legends about his life and work. I heard from a friar named Colegero, who is a devotee of St. Bernardo that one Bernardo decided to join the Capuchins he prayed before a Crucifix and the Crucifix as a sign of approval bent its head looking downwards. You can see that Crucifix even today in a small chapel which was once St. Bernardos house.


St. Bernardo da Corleone


 A Painting showing the miraculous healing that he conducted

 The Chapel today once was the house where St, Bernardo lived



The famous crucifix of the legend of affirming the entry of Bernardo in Capuchin Order


 The Chapel of st. Bernardino



Inside the Chapel, a small beautiful place for prayer




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