July 3: Capuchin Family Day

July 3 is a special day in the Capuchin calendar, for it is the date of the papal bull Religionis zelus (1528) by which the Capuchin reform was recognized officially 489 years ago.

Each year on this day we are able to remember that we are a Capuchin family and we celebrate the spiritual bonds that unite us with about a hundred institutes of consecrated life that are part of the Capuchin story.

There are many members of our Capuchin family: the contemplative Capuchin Poor Clares, the Poor Clare Sacramentines, the Poor Clares of Perpetual Adoration, the Capuchin nuns of the III Order, as well as the spiritual family of sisters and brothers of congregations aggregated to our Order, sharing our spirituality, many of them founded and accompanied by Capuchin friars.

Laity too are part of our family, especially the fraternities of the Secular Franciscan Order assisted by Capuchin friars and also many movements, institutions, and NGOs that take inspiration from our tradition in the realization of their varied service.

Therefore on July 3 we invite everyone to gather as one family in order to:

• Thank God in common prayer or in the celebration of the Eucharist for the gifts received as a spiritual family and to remember our founders;
• Break bread together fraternally and in dialogue, highlighting our identity as brothers and sisters and sharing our current situations;
• Plan some simple steps to strengthen our bonds, such as collaborations and mutual awareness of our activity.

Each friary, fraternity, and place is asked to take up this simple initiative and to keep alive the gift the being a family, adapted to different realities. Another, more convenient date may by chosen, but with the same purpose of communion and mutual rapport.