This section contains a collection of historical texts which were formerly held in the Library of the Capuchin Friary in Kilkenny. They were transferred to the Irish Capuchin Archives by Fr. Benedict Cullen OFM Cap. in the late 1990s. The collection includes some rare seventeenth century theological works collected by Irish-born friars who were educated in continental seminaries and friaries. Many of these early works include valuable information in the form of annotations, marginalia, and inscriptions. Other volumes include notes and stamps which provide further information about their provenance. Very little is known about the Capuchins in Kilkenny in the eighteenth century, though it must be presumed that, during most of this period, friars were living in the city. It can be said with some degree of certainty that they had a community in Kilkenny in 1757. A volume in this collection bears an annotation on the title page: ‘Ex libris Patris Simonis Eustace, Capucini Conventus Kilkenniensis 1757’. In another volume, he wrote ‘Simon Eustace, Vicar’, and enters the date 1756 (See CA KK/10/14). Aside from theological works touching upon the lives of saints or other aspects of religious devotion, the library also includes books relating to local history and antiquities, medicine, and linguistics. The series includes works published in English, Latin, French, and Dutch. The texts are listed chronologically.
Date: c.1678 Author: Martino Bonacina (1585-1631) Publisher: [Lugduni: Annison & Joannis Posuel, 1678?] Full title: 'Martini Bonacinæ Mediolanensis sacræ theologiæ ... Opera omnia: in tres tomos distribute …'. Series: The title page is missing the lower half but probably part of a three-volume publication. Title in red and black; title vignette. Vol. 2 has title: 'Opervm de morali theologia, et omnibus conscientiae nodis, in tres tomos distributorum, tomvs secvndvs, in qvo de legibvs deqve Decalogi et ecclesiae praeceptis, itémque de restitutione & contractibus accuratè disseritur. -- Editio novissima ... Vol. 3: Opervm de morali theologia, & omnibus conscientiae nodis, tomvs tertivs, De censuris omnibus ecclesiasticis particulari ...'.
Date: 1709 Author: Nicolas L’Herminier (1657-1735) Publisher: Parisiis, Florentinum Delaulne, viâ Jacobaeâ, M.DCCIX Full title: 'Summa theologiae ad usum scholae accommodate. Tomus Tertius, qui complectitur tractatum de incarnatione verbi divini. authore Nicolao L’Herminier ... Editio secunda primâ dimidio auctior' Originally published as a six-volume series comprising: Vol. I. De attributis divinis; Vol. 2. Part 1: De Ss. Trinitate. Part II. De angelis. Quibus accessit brevis introductio ad Scripturam sacram; (Extant); Vol. 3. De incarnatione divini Verbi; Vol. 4. Part I: De gratia Dei. Part II: De justificatione et merito; Vol. 5 Part I: De actibus humanis. Part II: De legibus; Vol. 6 De peccatis. Volume III: 568 pp 20 cm.
Date: 1727 Author: Honoré Tournély (1658-1729) Publisher: Parisiis, apud viduam Raymundi Mazieres, & Joannem-Bapt. Garnier, Reginae typographos & bibliopolas, viâ Jacobaeâ, sub signo providentiae. M. DCC XXVII. Cum approbatione & privilegio regis Full title: 'Praelectiones theologicae, de ecclesia Christi, quas in scholis sorbonicis habuit Honoratus Tournely, sacrae facultatis Parisiensis doctor, socius sorbonicus, regius & emeritus professor, sacrosanctae capellae regii palatii Parisiensis canonicis. Tomus Primus and Tomus Secundus'.
The volume is titled ‘subscriptions of the [Third Order] Brothers towards the expenses of the new convent’. The entries are listed under name and the amount of the monthly subscription towards the fund. The subscription list runs from circa July 1895 to Dec. 1900. The remainder of the volume includes miscellaneous accounts including an ‘account of John Kelly in connection with the Third Order, 1925-1929’.
Minute book of the council meetings of the Sisters of the Third Order of St. Francis in Kilkenny. Information is given in respect of the number of professed sisters, treasurer’s reports and pilgrimages and other religious ceremonies and events organised by the local fraternity.
Draft copy address signed by Arthur McMahon, Luke McRedmond and John Coyle (on behalf of the citizens of Kilkenny) to Fr. Joseph Harkins OSFC (d. 1 Dec. 1888) on the occasion of his departure to the missions in India. The address reads: ‘We, your fellow citizens and friends have heard with regret that you are about to take your departure from amongst us, that you are about to leave your native city and your native land … to walk in the footsteps of two of the greatest saints of His Holy Church: that you have been chosen to care in far distant India, the seed of which was planted in the blood of St. Thomas and nourished by the martyrdom of St. Francis Xavier’.
Appeal to Third Order members in Kilkenny to support the Franciscan Missionary Sisters of St. Joseph’s Convent, Busoga, British East Africa, who require a larger hospital building for the care of lepers.
Letter, invitations, notes re agenda and itinerary for the Third Order Regional Congress (Franciscan Tertiary Congress) held in Kilkenny in October 1939. Correspondents include Fr. Canice Bourke OFM Cap., Fr. Terence Anglin OFM Cap. and Fr. Leo Rowlands OFM Cap. (British Capuchin Province). It was noted that Aodh De Blácam (1890-1951), the well-known journalist and author, was one of scheduled speakers. With a photographic print of congress participants in Kilkenny on 15 Oct. 1939 ('Irish Press').
Letters from Fr. Canice Bourke OFM Cap., Commissary Provincial of the Third Order, to Fr. Terence Anglin OFM Cap., regarding returns for the fraternities in Kilkenny. Fr. Canice also affirms that every ‘priest in the Province has the power to receive persons into the Third Order and to profess them (7 Dec. 1940). See also CA KK/1/3/15.
