CAPELLIS, FRANCESCO MARIA de. – Capuchin liturgist and ascetical writer. A Bolognese, he held the principal offices in his religious province and was renowned as an accomplished orator. He died in 1668.
His best-known work is Circulus aureus seu breve compendium caerimoniarum et rituum quibus passim a presbyteris uti contingit. Composed for private use, the book was published by an indiscreet friend and, although it had already reached its 21st edition in 1690, was placed on the Index on 24 July 1724. He left various ascetical writings, including, published posthumously: Fasciculus florum, spiritualium monitorum... ad Missam devote atque utiliter conficiendam, 2nd ed., Bologna 1675; Ristoro spirituale ai poveri agonizzanti, ibid. 1715.
BIBL.: Bernardo da Bologna, Bibliotheca script. Ord. Min. Cappucc., Venice 1747, p. 104. Felicissimo Tinivella