Inside the Capuchin Convent there is an important archive and an ancient library that bear witness to the culture and spirituality of the Order. Inside the exhibition it is possible to see extremely rare “incunabula” which are the first books that were printed in the second half of the 1400s using the movable characters invented by Gutenberg. Many of these books were printed by the first typographers and printers existing in Italy with rich leather or leather covers, also decorated with impressions or ornamental decorations. Other volumes testify the cult and private devotion, such as the small volumes with the lives of the saints, or show us the activities carried out by the Capuchin friars dedicated to medicine or pharmacy.

St. Felix was born in Cantalice, in 1515 in a family of farmers. As a child he was sent to Cittaducale to a family of landowners. He was in charge of the care of livestock, especially cattle.

One day as he was taming two young bullocks yoking in the plough, these two went wild and knocked him over. The plough passed right across his chest, tearing his clothes, but without causing neither a scratch. Seeing this as a sign from heaven, he asked to be admitted at the Capuchin friary of the town.

St. Felix used to spend the nights in prayer was once seen in a state of ecstasy, receiving in his arms from the Virgin Mary the Jesus Child and letting him play with his beard.

His body rests in the Church of the Immaculate Conception in Via Veneto in Rome, where it was transported on April 27, 1631. He was beatified on the 1st of October 1625 and canonized by Clement XI on the 22nd of May 1712.

The liturgical feast is celebrated on the 18th of May.

Hand-colored lithographic print of 1881 from the original model engraved on copper of the 17th century.

Going by order from the bottom we find St. Francis and his 12 confreres. Going up there are the Saints and the other generation of friars with St. Anthony of Padua, followed by martyrs.
Higher up we find Cardinals and the six Franciscan Popes, Bishops and Archbishops with St. Louis of Toulouse and the sisters of St. Clare.
Then there are the reforms of the Franciscans where we find the Friars Minor represented by San Bernardino da Siena.
On top, the Capuchin Friars Minor with Mary Immaculate at the top, guardian and mother of the Franciscan Order.

Father Mariano was born in Turin on May 22, 1906, in a Christian and practicing family. In 1940, after a long reflection, he became a novice, as was custom at the time, the new name of Brother Mariano: ”I took the name – Mariano- to honor (at least so!) the one to whom I owe so much. I think with joy that every time they mention my poor name, something resonates with her.” In 1950 he began his lectures at the Vatican Radio and in 1955 Rai selected him to host a religious series. Father Mariano thus understood the importance of this medium and was able to use it to spread the Gospel message, obtaining great attention and very high listening. His programmes were broadcasted until 1972, the year of his death. In 1985 the body was transferred from the Verano cemetery in Rome to the church of the Immaculate Conception of the Capuchins where he still rests. On 15 March 2008 he was proclaimed ”Venerable”

End of 17th century (1695)

Watercolour on paper

Brief Story:

”There was a young Milanese man who gave himself to the devil, body and soul, with an agreement to give him all of the tastes and satisfactions that he wanted, and he was absolutely satisfied, since it had been promised to him by the enemy. Then one day he wanted to see Jesus Christ on how he died on the cross. The devil answered that he could not do that, because He was his enemy. The young man then said that the agreement worked that way, and that if the devil did not do that for him, he would take back his agreement of donating himself. To prevent that from happening, the devil brought him the crucifix painted on paper, like the shape of this one. The young man was deeply affected by this sight, so that he went to see a confessor to give confession. Upon hearing the case, the confessor said that he could not absolve him, and he encouraged him to go to the Holy Office, where he would find pardon and indulgence. The young man did all of that quickly, and the fathers of the Holy Office wanted the crucifix. 

And because he was a subordinate of D. Camilla Barberini, and she knew the case, so she was granted the grace of having a copy, which she sent to Rome to an important person, and from her was obtained the copy, with the agreement of her husband, Count Borromeo.” 

The Convent is a large complex built in Rome, intended as the ”House of the Order” and therefore with exceptionally large structures compared to all the structures of the Capuchins. The first stone of the convent was laid in March 1626 and the friars moved there on April 15, 1631. On January 20, 1925, the demolition of the old convent began to make room for the construction of the Ministry of Corporations and opened the route of the current Via Vittorio Veneto. In the convent there is also the provincial archive that preserves a voluminous documentation from the origins until today.