The Adornos
The Order of the Clerics Regular Minor (Adorno Fathers) came into existence in the 16th century and was one of several approved by the Church, before and after the Council of Trent, under the general name of Clerics Regular.
We are a religious Order of priests and brothers founded by Saint Francis Caracciolo, Venerable Augustine Adorno and Father Fabrizio Caracciolo in 1588. By solemnly professing the four vows of Poverty, Castity, Obedience and Not Seeking Ecclesiastical Dignities, we follow the example of Jesus Christ who Himself was poor, chaste, obedient and humble.
Centered on the Holy Eucharist, we desire to sanctify ourselves and the entire People of God by imitating in our lives the Paschal Mystery of Christ.
As a religious family, we strive to share with one another the joys and sorrows of everyday life. Our Order is open to those who are called by God to embrace the religious life. As religious, the candidate may pursue the life of a priest, brother or permanent deacon.
Called to holiness with the religious consecration for the glory of the Almighty and for the salvation of souls, the Clerics Regular Minor carry out the journey of perfection in community where common is God, common the commitment to perfection, common the difficulties, common the work, common the salvation, common in the end will be the glory.
With our rich history, the religious community is first of all a mystery, which must be contemplated, accepted and lived with faith and grateful hearts. Source of our common life is the spirit of the Risen Lord, who, when present in us, transforms gradually our hearts and renders possible staying together in charity.
The USA-Philippine Delegation
Adorno Fathers USA-Philippines Delegation was established in 2006 which consists of all religious working in the USA and the Philippines. Currently, in the USA we are located in states of New Jersey and South Carolina. In the Philippines we are present in Vinzons, Camarines Norte Region south of Luzon and in Lipa Batangas, south of Manila.
CRM Insigna
Our Coat of Arms shows the Risen Christ in a baroque setting reminiscent of the period-the 16th century when the Order came into existence. It was Sunday after Easter, April 9, 1589 when the founders St. Francis Caracciolo, Augustine Adorno and Fabrizio Caracciolo consecrated themselves to the Lord with the profession of vows and pledged that their life would fully dedicated for the greater glory of the Risen Christ.
Our Motto: The letters A.M.R.G. stands for Ad Majorem Resurgentis Gloriam: For the Greater Glory of the Risen Christ, in whose honor and glory the Order is dedicated.
C.R.M. (Clerics Regular Minor) The Clerics Regular was a general name for all the religious Orders which followed the Council of Trent. Regular stands for a rule of common life that we follow. The word Minor was given to the Order by Pope Sixtus V, who himself was a Friar Minor, and may have wanted it for personal reasons but it was readily agreed to by our Founders in view of the great emphasis they placed on humility.
Saint Francis Caracciolo was born from a noble family on October 13, 1563 in Villa Santa Maria, central Italy. Miraculously healed from a serious illness, he dedicated himself to the service of God and his people. He cultivated a great spirit of prayer. Notably, adoration before the Blessed Sacrament was his life; to it he dedicated as much time as possible. He prepared for and celebrated Mass with an edifying spirit of faith and devotion. Along with Venerable Augustine Adorno of Genoa and Fabrizio Caracciolo of Naples, he founded a new religious order, the Clerics Regular Minor, to assist the needs of the Church after the Council of Trent. Besides the goal and objectives common to other religious Orders and the three vows of chastity, poverty and obedience, he wanted to add a fourth vow: not to aspire to ecclesiastical honors. His life was like a long series of outstanding episodes which are reducible to the intervention of divine grace and an authentic Christian charity for which he was called Father of the Poor, Preacher of the love of God, and the Hunter of Souls. He reached the summit of holiness when he was only 44 years old and he rendered his soul to God on June 4, 1608, on the eve of Corpus Christi. He was canonized by Pope Pius VII in 1807.
Venerable John Augustine Adorno was born to a noble family in 1551 in Genoa. Brought up in the ways of a young gentleman, he entered the arena of diplomacy and eventually left for the court of Spain in 1573. While visiting the Dominican Church in Valencia in 1573, Adorno met Saint Louis Bertrand who foretold that he would be the founder of a new religious Order. While living in Granada, he squandered his money on gambling, partying and other frivolous pastimes. He eventually returned to Genoa in 1579. Attending Lenten meditations with his mother in the church of Saint Siro in Genoa, Adorno heard the voice of God and his heart was moved to conversion. After consulting with God by means of fasts, prayers, and vigils, he felt called to found a new religious Order in the Church. He left for Naples and met Fabrizio Caracciolo and St. Francis Caracciolo. There, they began the framework for a new Order. He was a model of sanctity before his fellow religious. His love for God was manifested continually throughout his life. After an illness, he died peacefully on September 19, 1591.
Fabrizio (Augostino) Caracciolo was born in 1555 in Naples. As a young man he revealed himself as being readily disposed to learning as well as piety. He completed his studies by obtaining a degree in Law, and he decided at that young age to pursue an Ecclesiastical career. He became successful in his career and at that time he had titles and Ecclesial benefits of the Abbey in Marsico Vetere in Naples. He met Agostino Adorno and St Francis Caracciolo in 1587 in Naples and they began the founding of a new Religious Institute in the Church. It was him who provided the needs of the newly found Religious Order in its beginnings by his income as the Abbot of St. Mary Major Church in Naples. After renouncing all his personal and family possessions, he made his Solemn Profession on the feast of St Bartholomew the Apostle, on August 25, 1596. It was on this occasion that he changed his name to Agostino in memory and in appreciation of his Co-Founder of the Institute. He died as a simple and humble religious on May 25, 1615 at age 60.