Former Minister General of the Order of Franciscan Friars Minor, Friar Costantino Koser OFM., was born on May 9, 1918, in Curitiba, Paraná, Brazil, and received his early education at the Seminary of the Franciscan Province of the Immaculate Conception. Joining the Franciscan Order, he began his novitiate in 1935, took his solemn vows on May 10, 1939, and was ordained to the priesthood on July 12, 1941.
Serving as lecturer in dogmatic theology, between 1951 and 1953, Koser pursued further studies at Fribourg, Germany, obtaining a degree summa cum laude in theology on May 22, 1953. Back in Brazil, he lectured at the Franciscan Theological Institute of the Province of the Immaculate Conception in Petropolis.
Director of the catechism office of the Diocese of Petropolis, he introduced a theological course for religious, being the first of its kind in Brazil. Participating in numerous congresses and theological movements, on November 1, 1950, he was present in Rome for the proclamation of the dogma of the Assumption of Mary. In January 1956, he organized the first Brazilian Theological Congress at Salvador de Bahia.
Serving as definitor in his Province between 1956 and 1959, in July 1958, he received the title of lector general and named member of the Pontificia Accademia Mariana Internazionale by his Order.
In the General Chapter of 1963, he was elected Definitor General for Latin America. During the Second Vatican Council, he participated in the theological reunions of the Brazilian bishops and served as personal counsellor to the Minister General, Friar Agostino Sepinski OFM., who was serving as a Council Father.
On November 3, 1965, following the appointment of Friar Sepinski to the Episcopate, Koser was elected Vicar General of the Order and was furthermore assigned as Council Father in the Fourth Session of the Second Vatican Council. His work included great reforms of the General Constitutions, adapted for the exigencies of Vatican Council II.
The 1967 General Chapter, held in Assisi, elected Koser as Minister General. In the latter post, he inducted and organized the Extraordinary Chapter of the Order held in Medellin, Colombia in 1971, and was reconfirmed in his post during the 1973 General Chapter held in Madrid, Spain. In 1976, he convoked an Extraordinary Chapter commemorating St. Francis of Assisi on the occasion of the 750th Anniversary of his death.
In 1979, he was asked by the Pope to participate with voting right in the Latin-American Episcopal Conference in Puebla, Mexico. That same year, his term in office as Minister General came to an end, and he returned to his Province in Petropolis, serving mostly as counsellor to general chapters of religious orders and participating in several conferences.
After undergoing a major bypass operation, Koser was forced to abandon most of his activities due to his health. Author of numerous letters and texts, he received four honoris causa doctorates from four universities.
Friar Costantino Koser passed away in Petropolis on December 19, 2000, at 10.30 pm., aged 82, after being recovered in hospital where the possibility of a surgery was studied to stop an internal hemorrhage. His remains were laid out in state at the Sacred Heart of Jesus church in Petropolis.
Serving as lecturer in dogmatic theology, between 1951 and 1953, Koser pursued further studies at Fribourg, Germany, obtaining a degree summa cum laude in theology on May 22, 1953. Back in Brazil, he lectured at the Franciscan Theological Institute of the Province of the Immaculate Conception in Petropolis.
Director of the catechism office of the Diocese of Petropolis, he introduced a theological course for religious, being the first of its kind in Brazil. Participating in numerous congresses and theological movements, on November 1, 1950, he was present in Rome for the proclamation of the dogma of the Assumption of Mary. In January 1956, he organized the first Brazilian Theological Congress at Salvador de Bahia.
Serving as definitor in his Province between 1956 and 1959, in July 1958, he received the title of lector general and named member of the Pontificia Accademia Mariana Internazionale by his Order.
In the General Chapter of 1963, he was elected Definitor General for Latin America. During the Second Vatican Council, he participated in the theological reunions of the Brazilian bishops and served as personal counsellor to the Minister General, Friar Agostino Sepinski OFM., who was serving as a Council Father.
On November 3, 1965, following the appointment of Friar Sepinski to the Episcopate, Koser was elected Vicar General of the Order and was furthermore assigned as Council Father in the Fourth Session of the Second Vatican Council. His work included great reforms of the General Constitutions, adapted for the exigencies of Vatican Council II.
The 1967 General Chapter, held in Assisi, elected Koser as Minister General. In the latter post, he inducted and organized the Extraordinary Chapter of the Order held in Medellin, Colombia in 1971, and was reconfirmed in his post during the 1973 General Chapter held in Madrid, Spain. In 1976, he convoked an Extraordinary Chapter commemorating St. Francis of Assisi on the occasion of the 750th Anniversary of his death.
In 1979, he was asked by the Pope to participate with voting right in the Latin-American Episcopal Conference in Puebla, Mexico. That same year, his term in office as Minister General came to an end, and he returned to his Province in Petropolis, serving mostly as counsellor to general chapters of religious orders and participating in several conferences.
After undergoing a major bypass operation, Koser was forced to abandon most of his activities due to his health. Author of numerous letters and texts, he received four honoris causa doctorates from four universities.
Friar Costantino Koser passed away in Petropolis on December 19, 2000, at 10.30 pm., aged 82, after being recovered in hospital where the possibility of a surgery was studied to stop an internal hemorrhage. His remains were laid out in state at the Sacred Heart of Jesus church in Petropolis.
Former Minister General of the Order of Franciscan Friars Minor, Friar Costantino Koser OFM., was born on May 9, 1918, in Curitiba, Paraná, Brazil, and received his early education at the Seminary of the Franciscan Province of the Immaculate Conception. Joining the Franciscan Order, he began his novitiate in 1935, took his solemn vows on May 10, 1939, and was ordained to the priesthood on July 12, 1941.
Serving as lecturer in dogmatic theology, between 1951 and 1953, Koser pursued further studies at Fribourg, Germany, obtaining a degree summa cum laude in theology on May 22, 1953. Back in Brazil, he lectured at the Franciscan Theological Institute of the Province of the Immaculate Conception in Petropolis.
Director of the catechism office of the Diocese of Petropolis, he introduced a theological course for religious, being the first of its kind in Brazil. Participating in numerous congresses and theological movements, on November 1, 1950, he was present in Rome for the proclamation of the dogma of the Assumption of Mary. In January 1956, he organized the first Brazilian Theological Congress at Salvador de Bahia.
Serving as definitor in his Province between 1956 and 1959, in July 1958, he received the title of lector general and named member of the Pontificia Accademia Mariana Internazionale by his Order.
In the General Chapter of 1963, he was elected Definitor General for Latin America. During the Second Vatican Council, he participated in the theological reunions of the Brazilian bishops and served as personal counsellor to the Minister General, Friar Agostino Sepinski OFM., who was serving as a Council Father.
On November 3, 1965, following the appointment of Friar Sepinski to the Episcopate, Koser was elected Vicar General of the Order and was furthermore assigned as Council Father in the Fourth Session of the Second Vatican Council. His work included great reforms of the General Constitutions, adapted for the exigencies of Vatican Council II.
The 1967 General Chapter, held in Assisi, elected Koser as Minister General. In the latter post, he inducted and organized the Extraordinary Chapter of the Order held in Medellin, Colombia in 1971, and was reconfirmed in his post during the 1973 General Chapter held in Madrid, Spain. In 1976, he convoked an Extraordinary Chapter commemorating St. Francis of Assisi on the occasion of the 750th Anniversary of his death.
In 1979, he was asked by the Pope to participate with voting right in the Latin-American Episcopal Conference in Puebla, Mexico. That same year, his term in office as Minister General came to an end, and he returned to his Province in Petropolis, serving mostly as counsellor to general chapters of religious orders and participating in several conferences.
After undergoing a major bypass operation, Koser was forced to abandon most of his activities due to his health. Author of numerous letters and texts, he received four honoris causa doctorates from four universities.
Friar Costantino Koser passed away in Petropolis on December 19, 2000, at 10.30 pm., aged 82, after being recovered in hospital where the possibility of a surgery was studied to stop an internal hemorrhage. His remains were laid out in state at the Sacred Heart of Jesus church in Petropolis.
Serving as lecturer in dogmatic theology, between 1951 and 1953, Koser pursued further studies at Fribourg, Germany, obtaining a degree summa cum laude in theology on May 22, 1953. Back in Brazil, he lectured at the Franciscan Theological Institute of the Province of the Immaculate Conception in Petropolis.
Director of the catechism office of the Diocese of Petropolis, he introduced a theological course for religious, being the first of its kind in Brazil. Participating in numerous congresses and theological movements, on November 1, 1950, he was present in Rome for the proclamation of the dogma of the Assumption of Mary. In January 1956, he organized the first Brazilian Theological Congress at Salvador de Bahia.
Serving as definitor in his Province between 1956 and 1959, in July 1958, he received the title of lector general and named member of the Pontificia Accademia Mariana Internazionale by his Order.
In the General Chapter of 1963, he was elected Definitor General for Latin America. During the Second Vatican Council, he participated in the theological reunions of the Brazilian bishops and served as personal counsellor to the Minister General, Friar Agostino Sepinski OFM., who was serving as a Council Father.
On November 3, 1965, following the appointment of Friar Sepinski to the Episcopate, Koser was elected Vicar General of the Order and was furthermore assigned as Council Father in the Fourth Session of the Second Vatican Council. His work included great reforms of the General Constitutions, adapted for the exigencies of Vatican Council II.
The 1967 General Chapter, held in Assisi, elected Koser as Minister General. In the latter post, he inducted and organized the Extraordinary Chapter of the Order held in Medellin, Colombia in 1971, and was reconfirmed in his post during the 1973 General Chapter held in Madrid, Spain. In 1976, he convoked an Extraordinary Chapter commemorating St. Francis of Assisi on the occasion of the 750th Anniversary of his death.
In 1979, he was asked by the Pope to participate with voting right in the Latin-American Episcopal Conference in Puebla, Mexico. That same year, his term in office as Minister General came to an end, and he returned to his Province in Petropolis, serving mostly as counsellor to general chapters of religious orders and participating in several conferences.
After undergoing a major bypass operation, Koser was forced to abandon most of his activities due to his health. Author of numerous letters and texts, he received four honoris causa doctorates from four universities.
Friar Costantino Koser passed away in Petropolis on December 19, 2000, at 10.30 pm., aged 82, after being recovered in hospital where the possibility of a surgery was studied to stop an internal hemorrhage. His remains were laid out in state at the Sacred Heart of Jesus church in Petropolis.
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