CHRISTEN, BERNARD of ANDERMATT. - Minister General of the Capuchin Friars Minor, titular archbishop of Stauropolis, born at Andermatt (canton of Uri, Switzerland) on 23 July 1837, died on 11 March 1909. Lecturer in philosophy and theology (1862), master of novices (1865), provincial of Switzerland (1879), custos of the Ticinese province (1883); Minister General for 24 years (1884–1908), he was responsible for the restoration of the Order, which the suppressions and tribulations of the nineteenth century had weakened.
He established the curia in Via Boncompagni in Rome, founded the official journal Analecta (1884), promulgated the Ordinaciones generales (1886), visited and organized the missions through a special Statutum (1887–93), and reorganized the Caeremoniale (1892); during his visits to the provinces, he attended, by means of particular regulations, to their regular life, apostolic activity, and studies. His German biography of St. Francis (Innsbruck 1899), improved in the 2nd ed. (ibid. 1902), was successful; it first appeared in French translation (Paris 1901; Italian trans., Innsbruck-Rome 1902; Portuguese trans., Bahia 1908). The author aims at edification; he does not engage in polemics, but critically assesses the sources and contemporary literature. The 3rd German ed. (Innsbruck 1922) was recast by Ilarino Felder of Lucerne (4th ed., ibid. 1927). Pio X, on 30 May 1908, rewarded his merits with the archiepiscopal dignity.