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The Order of Friars Minor and other Franciscan movements are disciples of Saint Francis of Assisi. Painting by El Greco
The Order of Friars Minor and other Franciscan movements are disciples of Saint Francis of Assisi. Painting by El Greco

The term Franciscan is used to refer to members of Catholic religious orders that follow a body of regulations known as "The rule of St. Catholic is an Adjective derived from the Greek adjective '' / 'katholikos' meaning "whole" or "complete". A religious order is a lineage of communities and organizations of people who live in some way set apart from society in accordance with their specific religious devotion usually Francis",[1] or a member of one of these orders. There are also small Old Catholic and Anglican Franciscan communities. The Old Catholic Church is a Christian denomination originating with churches (many of them German -speaking that split from the Roman Catholic Church in Anglicanism is a tradition of Christian faith Churches in this tradition either have historical connections to the Church of England or have similar beliefs

The best known group following "The rule of St. Francis of Assisi" is the Order of Friars Minor (commonly called simply the "Franciscans"). The Order of Friars Minor is a mendicant religious order of men tracing their origin to Francis of Assisi. The mendicant orders are religious orders which depend directly on the charity of the people for their livelihood A religious order is a lineage of communities and organizations of people who live in some way set apart from society in accordance with their specific religious devotion usually For the opera by Olivier Messiaen see Saint-François d'Assise.

Contents

Name

The official Latin name of the Orders of Friars Minor is the Ordo Fratrum Minorum (literally, "Order of Lesser Brothers"). Latin ( lingua Latīna, laˈtiːna is an Italic language, historically spoken in Latium and Ancient Rome. St. Francis thus referred to his followers as "Fraticelli", meaning "Little Brothers". Franciscan brothers are informally called friars or the Minorites. The branch of the order arriving in England in 1224 became known as the greyfriars. The modern organization of the Friars Minor now comprises three separate branches: the 'Friars Minor' (OFM); the 'Friars Minor Conventuals' (OFM Conv), and the 'Friars Minor Capuchins' (OFM Cap). The Order of Friars Minor Conventual (OFM Conv commonly known as the Conventual Franciscans, is a branch of the order of Roman Catholic Friars founded The Order of Friars Minor Capuchin ( OFM Cap; in England and Ireland, O

The beginning of the brotherhood

A sermon which Francis heard in 1209 on Mt 10:9 made such an impression on him that he decided to devote himself wholly to a life of apostolic poverty. The Gospel of Matthew (Gk Κατά Ματθαίον Ευαγγέλιον is one of the four Canonical gospels in the New Testament and is a Synoptic gospel Clad in a rough garment, barefoot, and, after the Evangelical precept, without staff or scrip, he began to preach repentance. Evangelism is the Christian practice of proselytisation. The intention of most evangelism is to effect Eternal salvation to those who do not follow the

He was soon joined by a prominent fellow townsman, Bernardo di Quintavalle, who contributed all that he had to the work, and by other companions, who are said to have reached the number of eleven within a year. Bernard son of Quintavalle son of Berardello (died 1241 was one of the first followers of St The brothers lived in the deserted lazar-house of Rivo Torto near Assisi; but they spent much of their time traveling through the mountainous districts of Umbria, always cheerful and full of songs, yet making a deep impression on their hearers by their earnest exhortations. Assisi (əˈsiːzi or /əˈsiːsi/ ( Latin: Asisium) is a Town in Italy in Province of Perugia, Italy, in the Umbria Umbria is one of the 20 Regions of Italy. The capital is Perugia. Their life was extremely ascetic, though such practises were apparently not prescribed by the first rule which Francis gave them (probably as early as 1209), which seems to have been nothing more than a collection of Scriptural passages emphasizing the duty of poverty.

In spite of the obvious similarity between this principle and the fundamental ideas of the followers of Peter Waldo, the brotherhood of Assisi succeeded in gaining the approval of Pope Innocent III. Peter Waldo, Valdo, or Waldes ( c. 1140 &ndash c. 1218 also Pierre Vaudès or de Vaux, was the founder of the Pope Innocent III ( February 22, 1161 &ndash June 16, 1216) born Lotario de' Conti di Segni, was Pope from January What seems to have impressed first the Bishop of Assisi, Guido, then Cardinal John of St. A cardinal is a senior ecclesiastical official usually a bishop, of the Catholic Church. Paul and finally Innocent himself, was their utter loyalty to the Church and her clergy. Innocent probably saw in them a possible answer to his desire for an orthodox preaching force to counter heresy. Many legends have clustered around the decisive audience of Francis with the Pope. The realistic account in Matthew Paris, according to which the Pope originally sent the shabby saint off to keep swine, and only recognized his real worth by his ready obedience, has, in spite of its improbability, a certain historical interest, since it shows the natural antipathy of the older Benedictine monasticism to the plebeian mendicant orders. Matthew Paris (c 1200 &ndash 1259 was a Benedictine monk English chronicler, artist in Illuminated manuscripts and Cartographer Benedictine refers to the Spirituality and Consecrated life in accordance with the Rule of St Benedict, written by Benedict of Nursia in

The last years of Francis

Francis had to suffer from the dissensions just alluded to and the transformation which they operated in the originally simple constitution of the brotherhood, making it a regular order under strict supervision from Rome. Exasperated by the demands of running a growing and fractious Order, Francis asked Pope Honorius III for help in 1219. Pope Honorius III (1148 &ndash March 18 1227) born Cencio, was Pope from 1216 to 1227 He was assigned Cardinal Ugolino as protector of the order by the Pope. Ugolino della Gherardesca (c 1220 &ndash March 1289 count of Donoratico was an Italian noble and naval commander head of the powerful family of della Francis resigned the day to day running of the Order into the hands of others but retained the power to shape the Order's legislation, writing a Rule in 1221 which he revised and had approved in 1223. At least after about 1223 the day to day running of the Order was in the hands of Brother Elias of Cortona, an able friar who would be elected as leader of the friars a few years after Francis' death (1226) but who aroused much opposition because of his autocratic style of leadership. Elias of Cortona was the second Minister General of the Friars Minor ( Franciscans) b He planned and built the Basilica of San Francesco d'Assisi in which Saint Francis is buried, a building including the friary Sacro Convento, which still today is the spiritual centre of the order. The Basilica of San Francesco d'Assisi in Assisi, Italy is the burial place of St Francis and the mother church of the Franciscan Order For the opera by Olivier Messiaen see Saint-François d'Assise. The Sacro Convento is a Franciscan Friary in Assisi, Umbria, Italy.

In the external successes of the brothers, as they were reported at the yearly general chapters, there was much to encourage Francis. Caesarius of Speyer, the first German provincial, a zealous advocate of the founder's strict principle of poverty, began in 1221 from Augsburg, with twenty-five companions, to win for the order the land watered by the Rhine and the Danube. A provincial superior is a major superior of a Religious order acting under the order's Superior general and exercising a general supervision over all the local superiors Augsburg is an independent City in the south-west of Bavaria. The Rhine (Rhein Rijn Rhin Reno Rain Rhenus is one of the longest and most important Rivers in Europe at 1320 kilometres (820 mi with an average discharge The Danube (In Donau from earlier Danuvius, Celtic *dānu, meaning "to flow run" Slovak and Polish Dunaj In 1224 Agnellus of Pisa led a small group of friars to England. Blessed Agnellus of Pisa was a Friar Minor and founder of the English Franciscan Province Beginning at Canterbury, the ecclesiastical capital, they moved on to London, the political capital and Oxford, the intellectual capital. Canterbury ( ˈkæntəbɹ̩i is a City in eastern Kent in the South East region of England. London ( ˈlʌndən is the capital and largest urban area in the United Kingdom. Oxford is currently bidding for the 2010 Wikimania Conference Oxford () is a city, and the County town of Oxfordshire, From these three bases the Franciscans swiftly expanded to embrace the principal towns of England. England is a Country which is part of the United Kingdom. Its inhabitants account for more than 83% of the total UK population whilst its mainland

Development of the order after the death of Francis

Dissensions during the life of Francis

The controversy about issues of poverty, which extends through the first three centuries of Franciscan history, began in the lifetime of the founder. The ascetic brothers Matthew of Narni and Gregory of Naples, a nephew of Hugolino, the two vicars-general to whom Francis had entrusted the direction of the order during his absence, carried through at a chapter which they held certain stricter regulations in regard to fasting and the reception of alms, which really departed from the spirit of the original rule. It did not take Francis long, on his return, to suppress this insubordinate tendency; but he was less successful in regard to another of an opposite nature which soon came up. Elias of Cortona originated a movement for the increase of the worldly consideration of the order and the adaptation of its system to the plans of the hierarchy which conflicted with the original notions of the founder and helped to bring about the successive changes in the rule already described. Francis was not alone in opposition to this lax and secularizing tendency. On the contrary, the party which clung to his original views and after his death took his "Testament" for their guide, known as Observantists or Zelanti, was at least equal in numbers and activity to the followers of Elias. The conflict between the two lasted many years, and the Zelanti won several notable victories, in spite of the favor shown to their opponents by the papal administration — until finally the reconciliation of the two points of view was seen to be impossible, and the order was actually split into halves.

Development to 1239

When the General Chapter could not agree on a common interpretation of the 1223 Rule it sent a delegation including St. Anthony of Padua to Pope Gregory IX for an authentic interpretation of this piece of papal legislation. Saint Anthony ( August 15, 1195 – June 13, 1231) also venerated as Saint Anthony of Lisbon and Saint Anthony of Padua, The bull Quo elongati of Pope Gregory IX, declared that the Testament of St. Pope Gregory IX, born Ugolino di Conti, was Pope from March 19, 1227 to August Francis was not legally binding and offered an interpretation of poverty that would allow the order to continue to develop. The earliest leader of the strict party was rather Brother Leo, the witness of the ecstasies of Francis on Monte Alverno and the author of the Speculum perfectionis, a strong polemic against the laxer party. Next to him came John Parenti, the first successor of Francis in the headship of the order. Giovanni Parenti (died 1250 was an Italian Franciscan. He led a mission to Spain in 1219 and Provincial for Spain In 1232 Elias succeeded him, and under him the order developed its ministries and presence in the towns significantly. Many new houses were founded, especially in Italy, and in many of them special attention was paid to education. The somewhat earlier settlements of Franciscan teachers at the universities (in Paris, for example, where Alexander of Hales was teaching) continued to develop. Paris (ˈpærɨs in English; in French) is the Capital of France and the country's largest city Alexander Hales (also Halensis, Alensis, Halesius, Alesius; called Doctor Irrefragabilis and Theologorum Monarcha) was a Contributions toward the promotion of the order's work, and especially the building of the Basilica in Assisi, came in abundantly. Funds could only be accepted on behalf of the friars for determined, imminent, real necessities that could not be provided for from begging. Gregory IX, in "Quo elongati" authorized agents of the order to have custody of such funds where they could not be spent immediately. Elias pursued with great severity the principal leaders of the opposition, and even Bernardo di Quintavalle, the founder's first disciple, was obliged to conceal himself for years in the forest of Monte Sefro. It must be noted that St. Clare of Assisi, whom St. Santa Chiara redirects here For the church in Rome of that name see Santa Chiara (church. Francis saw as a co-founder of his movement, consistently backed Elias as faithfully reflecting the mind of their founder.

To 1274. Bonaventure

A franciscan church in Ljubljana
A franciscan church in Ljubljana

Elias had governed the order from the center, imposing his authority on the provinces (as had Francis). Ljubljana ( is the largest and Capital city of Slovenia. It is located in the center of the country and is a mid-sized city of some 270000 inhabitants A reaction to this centralized government was led from the provinces of England and Germany. At the general chapter of 1239, held in Rome under the personal presidency of Gregory IX, Elias was deposed in favor of Albert of Pisa, the former provincial of England, a moderate Observantist. Pope Gregory IX, born Ugolino di Conti, was Pope from March 19, 1227 to August Albert of Pisa (died 1240 was an Italian Franciscan. He became the third Minister General of the Order of Friars Minor in 1239 This chapter introduced General Statutes to govern the order and devolved power from the Minister General to the Ministers Provincial sitting in chapter. The next two Ministers General Haymo of Faversham (1240-44) and Crescentius of Jesi (1244-47), consolidated this greater democracy in the Order but also led the order towards a greater clericalisation. Haymo of Faversham was an English Franciscan and schoolman born at Faversham, Kent and died at Anagni, Italy, circa Crescentius Grizi of Jesi (died 1263 was an Italian Franciscan who became Minister General of the Order of Friars Minor. The new Pope Innocent IV supported them in this. Pope Innocent IV, born Sinibaldo Fieschi was Pope from June 28, 1243 to December 7, 1254. In a bull of November 14, 1245, this pope even sanctioned an extension of the system of financial agents, and allowed the funds to be used not simply for those things that were necessary for the friars but also for those that were useful. The Observantist party took a strong stand in opposition to this ruling, and carried on so successful an agitation against the lax General that in 1247, at a chapter held in Lyon, France—where Innocent IV was then residing—he was replaced by the strict Observantist John of Parma (1247-57) and the order refused to implement any provisions of Innocent IV that were laxer than those of Gregory IX. Blessed John of Parma was an Italian Franciscan, and Minister General of the Friars Minor (1247-1257

Elias, who had been excommunicated and taken under the protection of Frederick II, was now forced to give up all hope of recovering his power in the order. He died in 1253, after succeeding by recantation in obtaining the removal of his censures. Under John of Parma, who enjoyed the favor of Innocent IV and Pope Alexander IV, the influence of the order was notably increased, especially by the provisions of the latter pope in regard to the academic activity of the brothers. Pope Alexander IV (1199 or ca 1185 &ndash May 25 1261) was Pope from 1254 until his death He not only sanctioned the theological institutes in Franciscan houses, but did all he could to support the friars in the Mendicant Controversy, when the secular Masters of the university of Paris and the Bishops of France combined to attack the Mendicant Orders. It was due to the action of Alexander's representatives, who were obliged to threaten the university authorities with excommunication, that the degree of doctor of theology was finally conceded to the Dominican Thomas Aquinas and the Franciscan Bonaventure (1257), who had previously been able to lecture only as licentiates. The Order of Preachers ( Latin: Ordo Praedicatorum) after the 15th century more commonly known as the Dominican Order or Dominicans, is Saint Bonaventure of Bagnoregio (San Bonaventura (1221 &ndash July 15, 1274) born John of Fidanza (Giovanni di Fidanza was the eighth Minister

The Franciscan Gerard of Borgo San Donnino at this time issued a Joachimite tract and John of Parma was seen as favoring the condemned theology of Joachim of Fiore. Gerard of Borgo San Donnino (Gerardo di Borgo San Donnino was a Sicilian Friar of the Franciscan order. Joachim of Fiore, also known as Joachim of Flora and in Italian Gioacchino da Fiore (c To protect the order from its enemies John was forced to step down and recommended Bonaventure as his successor. Bonaventure saw the need to unify the order around a common ideology and both wrote a new life of the founder and collected the order's legislation into the Constitutions of Narbonne, so called because they were ratified by the Order at its chapter held at Narbonne, France, in 1260. In the chapter of Pisa three years later Bonaventure's "Legenda maior" was approved as the only biography of Francis and all previous biographies were ordered to be destroyed. Bonaventure ruled (1257-74) in a moderate spirit, which is represented also by various works produced by the order in his time — especially by the Expositio regulae written by David of Augsburg soon after 1260. David of Augsburg (early 13th century – 19 November 1272) was a Medieval German mystic, and a Franciscan friar

To 1300. Continued dissensions

The successor of Bonaventura, Jerome of Ascoli (1274-79), the future Pope Nicholas IV, and his successor, Bonagratia of Bologna (1279-85), also followed a middle course. Pope Nicholas IV ( September 30, 1227 &ndash April 4, 1292) born Girolamo Masci, was Pope from February 22, Not to be confused with Bonagratia of Bergamo Bonagratia de San Giovanni in Persiceto (died 1283 was an Italian Franciscan who became Severe measures were taken against certain extreme Spirituals who, on the strength of the rumor that Pope Gregory X was intending at the Council of Lyon (1274-75) to force the mendicant orders to tolerate the possession of property, threatened both pope and council with the renunciation of allegiance. Pope Attempts were made, however, to satisfy the reasonable demands of the Spiritual party, as in the bull Exiit qui seminiat of Pope Nicholas III (1279), which pronounced the principle of complete poverty meritorious and holy, but interpreted it in the way of a somewhat sophistical distinction between possession and usufruct. Pope Nicholas III ( Rome, 1210/1220 &ndash August 22, 1280) born Giovanni Gaetano Orsini, Pope from November 25, The bull was received respectfully by Bonagratia and the next two generals, Arlotto of Prato (1285-87) and Matthew of Aqua Sparta (1287-89); but the Spiritual party under the leadership of the fanatical apocalyptic Pierre Jean Olivi regarded its provisions for the dependence of the friars upon the Pope and the division between brothers occupied in manual labor and those employed on spiritual missions as a corruption of the fundamental principles of the order. Arlotto of Prato (died 1286 was an Italian Franciscan theologian Matthew of Aquasparta (c 1235 - 29 October[[ 302]] was an Italian Franciscan and Scholastic philosopher. Peter John Olivi, or in his native French Pierre Jean Olivi, ( 1248 - March 14 1298) was a Franciscan theologian who although They were not won over by the conciliatory attitude of the next general, Raymond Gaufredi (1289-96), and of the Franciscan Pope Nicholas IV (1288-92). Raymond de Gaufredi (died 1310 was a Franciscan from Provence. The attempt made by the next pope, Pope Celestine V, an old friend of the order, to end the strife by uniting the Observantist party with his own order of hermits (see Celestines) was scarcely more successful. Celestines, a branch of the great Benedictine monastic order, founded in 1244 Only a part of the Spirituals joined the new order, and the secession scarcely lasted beyond the reign of the hermit-pope. Pope Boniface VIII annulled Celestine's bull of foundation with his other acts, deposed the general Raymond Gaufredi, and appointed a man of laxer tendency, John de Murro, in his place. Pope Boniface VIII (c 1235 &ndash October 11, 1303) born Benedetto Caetani, was Pope of the Roman Catholic Church from 1294 Giovanni Mincio may also be Antipope Benedict X Giovanni Minio or Mincio, of Morrovalle or Murrovale (died August 1312 The Benedictine section of the Celestines was separated from the Franciscan section, and the latter was formally suppressed by Boniface in 1302. The leader of the Observantists, Olivi, who spent his last years in the Franciscan house at Narbonne and died there in 1298, had pronounced against the extremer "Spiritual" attitude, and given an exposition of the theory of poverty which was approved by the more moderate Observantists, and for a long time constituted their principle.

Temporary success of the stricter party. Persecution

Under Pope Clement V (1305-14) this party succeeded in exercising some influence on papal decisions. Pope Clement V' (About 1264 &ndash April 20, 1314) born Raymond Bertrand de Got (also occasionally spelled de Gouth and de In 1309 Clement had a commission sit at Avignon for the purpose of reconciling the conflicting parties. Avignon (/aviɲɔ̃/ in French) ( Provençal: Avinhon in classical norm or Avignoun in Mistralian norm is a commune Ubertino of Casale, the leader, after Olivi's death, of the stricter party, who was a member of the commission, induced the Council of Vienne to arrive at a decision in the main favoring his views, and the papal constitution Exivi de paradiso (1313) was on the whole conceived in the same sense. Ubertino of Casale, (1259 &ndash 1329 was an Italian Franciscan and one of the leaders (together with Michael of Cesena; preceded by Peter Olivi The Council of Vienne was the Fifteenth Ecumenical Council of the Roman Catholic Church that met between 1311 and 1312 in Vienne. Clement's successor, Pope John XXII (1316-34), favored the laxer or conventual party. Pope John (numbering Pope John XXII (1249 &ndash December 4, 1334) born Jacques Duèze (or d'Euse) was Pope from 1316 to 1334 By the bull Quorundam exigit he modified several provisions of the constitution Exivi, and required the formal submission of the Spirituals. Some of them, encouraged by the strongly Observantist general Michael of Cesena, ventured to dispute the Pope's right so to deal with the provisions of his predecessor. Michael of Cesena ( Michele di Cesena or Michele Fuschi) (c 1270 &ndash November 29 1342) was a Franciscan, general of that Order Sixty-four of them were summoned to Avignon, and the most obstinate delivered over to the Inquisition, four of them being burned (1318). Shortly before this all the separate houses of the Observantists had been suppressed.

Renewed controversy on the question of poverty

A few years later a new controversy, this time theoretical, broke out on the question of poverty. The Spirituals contended eagerly for the view that Christ and his apostles had possessed absolutely nothing, either separately or jointly. This proposition had been declared heretical in a trial before an inquisitor. A protest was now made against this decision by the chapter held at Perugia in 1322, as well as by such influential members of the order as William of Ockham, the English provincial, and Bonagratia of Bergamo. Perugia is the capital City of the region of Umbria in central Italy, near the Tiber river and the capital of the Province of Perugia William of Ockham (also Occam, Hockham, or any of several other spellings ˈɒkəm (c Not to be confused with Bonagratia of San Giovanni in Persiceto Bonagratia of Bergamo (c

John XXII aligned himself decidedly with the Dominicans, who combated the theory, and by the papal bull Cum inter nonnullos of 1322 declared the Franciscan doctrine of the poverty of Christ erroneous and heretical. The Order of Preachers ( Latin: Ordo Praedicatorum) after the 15th century more commonly known as the Dominican Order or Dominicans, is In his bull "Ad conditorem canonum" of the same year, John forced the Franciscans to accept property and granted an exemption from the Rule which absolutely forbade the friars ownership of property. Appealing from this decision, Bonagratia, Occam, and Michael of Cesena were imprisoned at Avignon for four years, until they escaped by the help of the Emperor Louis the Bavarian. Supported by him, they carried on a literary war against the papal and Dominican denial of the absolute poverty of Christ and his apostles. The Pope deposed Cesena and Occam from their offices in the order, and excommunicated them with the Franciscan Anti-Pope Peter of Corvara (Nicholas V) and all their adherents. See also Antipope Nicholas V. Pope Nicholas V (Italian Niccolò V; November 15, 1397 &ndash March Only a small part of the order, however, joined them, and at a general chapter held in Paris (1329) the majority of all the houses declared their submission to the Pope. Paris (ˈpærɨs in English; in French) is the Capital of France and the country's largest city The same step was taken in the following year by the antipope, later by the ex-general Cesena, and finally, just before his death, by Occam. An antipope ( Latin: antipapa) is a person who makes a widely accepted claim to be the lawful Pope, in opposition to the pope recognised by the Roman

Separate congregations

Out of all these dissensions in the fourteenth century sprang a number of separate congregations, almost of sects. To say nothing of the heretical parties of the Beghards and Fraticelli, some which developed within the order on both hermit and cenobitic principles may here be mentioned:

The Clareni

or Clarenini, an association of hermits established on the river Clareno in the march of Ancona by Angelo da Clareno after the suppression of the Franciscan Celestines by Boniface VIII. Beghards and Beguines were Roman Catholic lay religious communities active in the 13th and 14th century living in a loose semi- Monastic community The Fraticelli, sometimes confusingly called Fratricelli, were medieval Roman Catholic groups that could trace their origins to the Franciscans, but Ancona (Ankon is a city and a seaport in the Marche, a region of central Italy, population 101909 (2005 Angelo da Clareno (1247-1337 was the founder and leader of one of the groups of Fraticelli in the early 14th century It maintained the principles of Olivi, and, outside of Umbria, spread also in the kingdom of Naples, where Angelo died in 1337. Naples ( Napoli, Neapolitan: Nàpule) is a historic City in southern Italy, the Capital of the Like several other smaller congregations, it was obliged in 1568 under Pope Pius V to unite with the general body of Observantists. Pope

The Minorites of Narbonne

As a separate congregation, this originated through the union of a number of houses which followed Olivi after 1308. It was limited to southwestern France and, its members being accused of the heresy of the Beghards, was suppressed by the Inquisition during the controversies under John XXII.

The reform of Johannes de Vallibus

This was founded in the hermitage of St. Bartholomew at Brugliano near Foligno in 1334. The congregation was suppressed by the Franciscan general chapter in 1354; reestablished in 1368 by Paolo de' Trinci of Foligno; confirmed by Gregory XI. in 1373, and spread rapidly from Central Italy to France, Spain, Hungary and elsewhere. Most of the Observantist houses joined this congregation by degrees, so that it became known simply as the "brothers of the regular Observance. " It acquired the favor of the popes by its energetic opposition to the heretical Fraticelli, and was expressly recognized by the Council of Constance (1415). The Fraticelli, sometimes confusingly called Fratricelli, were medieval Roman Catholic groups that could trace their origins to the Franciscans, but In the Roman Catholic Church, the Council of Constance is the 16th Ecumenical council. It was allowed to have a special vicar-general of its own and legislate for its members without reference to the conventual part of the order. Through the work of such men as Bernardino of Siena, Giovanni da Capistrano, and Dietrich Coelde (b. Saint Bernardino of Siena (sometimes Bernardine, September 8 1380 &ndash May 20, 1444) was an Italian priest preacher Saint Giovanni da Capestrano ( in English, Saint John Capistrano and in Hungarian, János Kapisztrán) June 24 Dietrich Coelde (born at Münster, in 1435 died at Leuven, 11 December[[ 515]] was a German Franciscan missionary 1435? at Munster; was a member of the Brethren of the Common Life, died December 11, 1515), it gained great prominence during the fifteenth century. The Brethren of the Common Life was a Roman Catholic religious community founded in the 14th century by Gerard Groote, formerly a successful and worldly Events 359 - Honoratus, the first known Prefect of the City of Constantinople, takes office By the end of the Middle Ages, the Observantists, with 1,400 houses, comprised nearly half of the entire order. Their influence brought about attempts at reform even among the Conventuals, including the quasi-Observantist brothers living under the rule of the Conventual ministers (Martinianists or "Observantes sub ministris"), such as the male Colletans, later led by Boniface de Ceva in his reform attempts principally in France and Germany; the reformed congregation founded in 1426 by the Spaniard Philip de Berbegal and distinguished by the special importance they attached to the little hood (cappuciola); the Neutri, a group of reformers originating about 1463 in Italy, who tried to take a middle ground between the Conventuals and Observantists, but refused to obey the heads of either, until they were compelled by the Pope to affiliate with the regular Observantists, or with those of the Common Life; the Caperolani, a congregation founded about 1470 in North Italy by Peter Caperolo, but dissolved again on the death of its founder in 1481; the Amadeists, founded by the noble Portuguese Amadeo, who entered the Franciscan order at Assisi in 1452, gathered around him a number of adherents to his fairly strict principles (numbering finally twenty-six houses) and, died in the odor of sanctity in 1482. Pietro Caperolo (date of birth unknown d at Velletri in 1480 was an Italian Franciscan preacher

Unsuccessful attempts to unite the order

Projects for a union between the two main branches of the order were put forth not only by the Council of Constance but by several popes, without any positive result. By direction of Martin V. , John of Capistrano drew up statutes which were to serve as a basis for reunion, and they were actually accepted by a general chapter at Assisi in 1430; but the majority of the Conventual houses refused to agree to them, and they remained without effect. At Capistrano's request Eugenius IV put forth a bull (Ut sacra minorum, 1446) looking to the same result, but again nothing was accomplished. Equally unsuccessful were the attempts of the Franciscan Pope Sixtus IV, who bestowed a vast number of privileges on both the original mendicant orders, but by this very fact lost the favor of the Observantists and failed in his plans for reunion. Julius II succeeded in doing away with some of the smaller branches, but left the division of the two great parties untouched. This division was finally legalized by Leo X, after a general chapter held in Rome in 1517, in connection with the reform-movement of the Fifth Lateran Council, had once more declared the impossibility of reunion. The less strict principles of the Conventuals, permitting the possession of real estate and the enjoyment of fixed revenues, were recognized as tolerable, while the Observantists, in contrast to this usus moderatus, were held strictly to their own usus arctus or pauper. The latter, as adhering more closely to the rule of the founder, were allowed to claim a certain superiority over the former. The Observantist general (elected now for six years, not for life) was to have the title of "Minister-General of the Whole Order of St. Francis" and the right to confirm the choice of a head for the Conventuals, who was known as "Master-General of the Friars Minor Conventual" — although this privilege never became practically operative.

Spread of the order in modern times

See: Franciscan Order in modern times

Distinguished Franciscans

Although surpassed in the number of prominent and influential historical personages who are associated with the Jesuits and Dominicans, the Franciscan order nevertheless boasts a number of distinguished members. This article chronicles the spread of the Franciscan Order of Roman Catholic Friars in Modern Times The Society of Jesus ( Latin: Societas Iesu, SJ and SI or SJ, SI) is a Catholic religious order The Order of Preachers ( Latin: Ordo Praedicatorum) after the 15th century more commonly known as the Dominican Order or Dominicans, is From its first century can be cited the three great scholastics Alexander of Hales, Bonaventure, and John Duns Scotus, the "Admirable Doctor" Roger Bacon, and the well-known mystic authors and popular preachers David of Augsburg and Berthold of Regensburg. Alexander Hales (also Halensis, Alensis, Halesius, Alesius; called Doctor Irrefragabilis and Theologorum Monarcha) was a Saint Bonaventure of Bagnoregio (San Bonaventura (1221 &ndash July 15, 1274) born John of Fidanza (Giovanni di Fidanza was the eighth Minister For the Nova Scotia premier see Roger Bacon (politician. Roger Bacon, O David of Augsburg (early 13th century – 19 November 1272) was a Medieval German mystic, and a Franciscan friar Bertold of Regensburg (c 1220-1272 the greatest German preacher of the later Middle Ages was a native of Regensburg, and entered the Franciscan

During the Middle Ages notworthy members included Nicholas of Lyra, the Biblical commentator Bernardino of Siena, preachers John of Capistrano, Oliver Maillard and Michel Menot, and historians Luke Wadding and Antoine Pagi. Nicholas Of Lyra (c 1270&ndashOctober 1349 or Nicolaus Lyranus, a Franciscan teacher was among the most influential practitioners of Biblical Saint Bernardino of Siena (sometimes Bernardine, September 8 1380 &ndash May 20, 1444) was an Italian priest preacher Saint Giovanni da Capestrano ( in English, Saint John Capistrano and in Hungarian, János Kapisztrán) June 24 Oliver Maillard (b at Juignac, (? Brittany about 1430 d at Toulouse, 22 July[[ 502]] was a Breton Franciscan preacher Luke Wadding ( 16 October 1588 - 18 November 1657) Irish Franciscan friar and Historian, Life Wadding Antoine Pagi (31 March 1624 at Rognes in the Department of Bouches-du-Rhone – 5 June 1699 in Aix-en-Provence) was a French ecclesiastical historian

In the field of Christian art, during the later Middle Ages, the Franciscan movement exercised considerable influence, especially in Italy. Several great painters of the thirteenth and fourteenth centuries, especially Cimabue and Giotto, who, though they were not friars, were spiritual sons of Francis in the wider sense, and the plastic masterpieces of the latter, as well as the architectural conceptions of both himself and his school, show the influence of Franciscan ideals. Cenni di Pepo (Giovanni Cimabue (c 1240 — c 1302 also known as Bencivieni di Pepo or in modern Italian Benvenuto di Giuseppe was an Italian painter and creator The Italian Gothic style, whose earliest important monument is the great convent church at Assisi (built 1228-53), was cultivated as a rule principally by members of the order or men under their influence. Assisi (əˈsiːzi or /əˈsiːsi/ ( Latin: Asisium) is a Town in Italy in Province of Perugia, Italy, in the Umbria

The early spiritual poetry of Italy was partially inspired by Francis himself, who was followed by Thomas of Celano, Bonaventure, and Jacopone da Todi. Jacopone da Todi ( Todi, 1228 &ndash Collazzone 1306 was a Franciscan friar from Umbria, Italy Through a tradition which held him to have been a member of the Franciscan Third Order, even Dante may be included within this artistic tradition (cf. especially Paradiso, xi. 50).

Other famous members of the Franciscan family include Anthony of Padua, Roger Bacon, François Rabelais, Alexander of Hales, Giovanni da Pian del Carpini, Pio of Pietrelcina, Maximilian Kolbe, Mamerto Esquiú, Gabriele Allegra, and Mychal F. Judge. Saint Anthony ( August 15, 1195 – June 13, 1231) also venerated as Saint Anthony of Lisbon and Saint Anthony of Padua, For the Nova Scotia premier see Roger Bacon (politician. Roger Bacon, O Alexander Hales (also Halensis, Alensis, Halesius, Alesius; called Doctor Irrefragabilis and Theologorum Monarcha) was a Giovanni da Pian del Carpine, or John of Plano Carpini or John of Pian de Carpine or Joannes de Plano (c Pio of Pietrelcina ( 25 May, 1887 – 23 September 1968) was a Capuchin Priest from Italy who is venerated as Biography Maximilian Kolbe was born in January 1894 in Zduńska Wola, which was at that time part of the Russian Empire. Mamerto de la Ascensión Esquiú Servant of God ( May 11 1826 - March 10 1883) was an Argentine friar Gabriele Allegra ( December 26, 1907 – † January 26, 1976) was a Franciscan Friar and scripture scholar Mychal F Judge, OFM ( May 11, 1933 – September 11, 2001) was a Roman Catholic Priest

The Clarisses or Poor Clares

For the history of the female branch of the order, founded in the lifetime of Francis, see Poor Clares. The Order of Poor Ladies, also known as the Order of St Clare, the Poor Clares, the Poor Clare Sisters, the Clarisse, the Minoresses

The Third Order or Order of Penance

The Third Order has its origins in the movement of the Penitents. These were people who desired to grow in holiness in their daily lives without joining a religious order. Eventually, a religious order grew out of the Secular Franciscan Order and which later became known as the Third Order Regular.

Secular Franciscan Order

Main article: Secular Franciscan Order

During his lifetime, many married men and women asked St. The Secular Franciscan Order (SFO is a community of Roman Catholic men and women in the world who seek to pattern their lives after Christ in the spirit of St Francis to embrace his style of life, but of course, due to their secular state, they were not able to enter into the First Order or into the Poor Clares. For this reason, he founded a Secular order to which lay and married men and women could belong and live according the Gospel. Nowadays, this part of the Third Order is known as Secular Franciscan Order and is numerous and spread around the world. The original Rule, given by St. Francis in 1221, was slightly modified during the centuries to be adapted to the changing times, and now the last one was given by Pope Paul VI in 1978. Pope Year 1978 ( MCMLXXVIII) was a Common year starting on Sunday (link displays the 1978 Gregorian calendar)

Third Order Regular

The Third Order Regular is an international community of priests and brothers who desire to emphasize the works of mercy and on-going conversion. The community is also known as the Franciscan Friars, TOR and was originally founded in 1447 by a papal decree that united several Third Order groups. They strive to "rebuild the Church" in areas of high school and college education, parish ministry, church renewal, social justice, campus ministry, hospital chaplaincies, foreign missions, and other ministries in places where the Church is needed. [2]

Brothers and Sisters of Penance of Saint Francis

The Brothers and Sisters of Penance of St. Francis was a lay private Association of the Faithful founded in 1996 in the Archdiocese of St. Paul in the United States. The Brothers and Sisters of Penance of St Francis is a private confraternity of the Roman Catholic Church whose members strive to model their lives according to the Rule and The Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Saint Paul and Minneapolis (Latin Archidioecesis Pauloplitana et Minneapolitana) is an ecclesiastical territory or Diocese

Franciscans International

Franciscans International [3] is a Non-governmental organization (NGO) with General Consultative status at the United Nations, uniting the voices of Franciscan brothers and sisters from around the world. Franciscans International (FI is a Non-governmental organization with General Consultative status at the United Nations. The United Nations ( UN) is an International organization whose stated aims are to facilitate cooperation in International law, International security It operates under the sponsorship of the Conference of the Franciscan Family (CFF) and serve all Franciscans and the global community by bringing spiritual, ethical, and Franciscan values to the United Nations and international organizations.

Franciscans around the world run schools, hospitals, Justice and Peace offices, shelters, and specialise in many services for the poor. Programs at FI bring grassroots Franciscans to the United Nations forums in New York and Geneva, influencing international human rights standards and bringing witness to human rights violations. The United Nations ( UN) is an International organization whose stated aims are to facilitate cooperation in International law, International security New York ( is a state in the Mid-Atlantic and Northeastern regions of the United States and is the nation's third most populous Geneva (Genève is the second-most populous city in Switzerland (after Zürich) and is the most populous city of Romandy (the French -speaking

Ecumenical and Non-Catholic Franciscans

One of the results of the Oxford Movement in the Anglican Church during the 19th century was the re-establishment of religious orders, including some of Franciscan inspiration. The Oxford Movement or Tractarianism was an affiliation of High Church Anglicans, most of whom were members of the University of Oxford, who sought See also Anglicanism The Anglican Communion is an international association of national Anglican churches The principal Anglican communities in the Franciscan tradition are the Community of St. Francis (women, founded 1905), the Society of Saint Francis (men, founded 1934), and the Community of St Clare (women, enclosed). The Community of St Francis (CSF is a Franciscan Anglican religious order of sisters founded in 1905 The Society of Saint Francis is a Franciscan religious order within the Anglican Communion. There is also a Third Order. The term Third Order designates persons who live according to the Third Rule of Catholic religious orders either outside of a monastery in the world or in a religious community

There are also some small Franciscan communities within European Protestant and Old Catholic Churches, and The Saint Francis Ecumenical Society - [4] Ecumenical Franciscan Society from Eastern Europe (Lutheran, Catholic, Orthodox, Anglican and free Protestant members). Protestantism refers to the forms of Christian faith and practice that originated in the 16th century Protestant Reformation. The Old Catholic Church is a Christian denomination originating with churches (many of them German -speaking that split from the Roman Catholic Church in There are some Franciscan orders in Lutheran Churches. Franciscan spirituality was not favoured by Reformation but later the 20th century High Church Movement has given birth to Franciscan orders among revival of

Two of the more ecumenical Franciscan Orders within the Anglican heritage are the Order of Servant Franciscans (OSF)[5] and the Conventual Community of Saint Francis (CCSF). The members of the Order of Servant Franciscans (OSF) are committed the process of becoming ministers of Christ's message of reconciliation and love, as demonstrated by the holy lives of Saints Francis and Clare. The Conventual Community of Saint Francis (CCSF) has a special charism to serve the marginalized, including the poor and homeless, racial and sexual minorities, and others who are not welcomed by the insitutional church. The OSF and the CCSF are not officially related in any way.

Visions and Stigmata

Among the many Catholic orders, Franciscans have proportionally reported higher ratios of stigmata and have claimed proportionally higher ratios of visions of Jesus and Mary. Stigmata are bodily marks sores or sensations of pain in locations corresponding to the Crucifixion wounds of Jesus. Since the Crucifixion of Jesus Christ in Calvary until today a number of people have claimed to have had visions (and indeed personal conversations with Him and Saint Francis of Assisi himself was one of the very first reported cases of stigmata, and perhaps the most famous stigmatic of modern times is Saint Padre Pio, a Capuchin, who also reported visions of Jesus and Mary. For the opera by Olivier Messiaen see Saint-François d'Assise. Pio of Pietrelcina ( 25 May, 1887 – 23 September 1968) was a Capuchin Priest from Italy who is venerated as Pio's stigmata persisted for over fifty years and he was examined by numerous physicians in the 20th century, who confirmed the existence of the wounds, but none of whom could produce a medical explanation for the fact that his bleeding wounds would never get infected. According to Encyclopedia Britannica, his wounds healed once, but reappeared. [6] According to the Columbia Encyclopedia [7] some medical authorities who examined Padre Pio's wounds were inclined to believe that the stigmata were connected with nervous or cataleptic hysteria. According to Answers. com [8] the wounds were examined by Luigi Romanelli, chief physician of the City Hospital of Barletta, for about one year. Dr. Giorgio Festa, a private practitioner also examined them in 1920 and 1925. Professor Giuseppe Bastianelli, physician to Pope Benedict XV agreed that the wounds existed but made no other comment. Pathologist Dr. Amico Bignami of the University of Rome also observed the wounds, but made no diagnosis.

After an intense apostolic activity in Italy, in 1219 Francis went to Egypt with the Fifth Crusade, to announce the Gospel to the Saracens. Italy (Italia officially the Italian Republic, (Repubblica Italiana is located on the Italian Peninsula in Southern Europe, and on the two largest This article is about the country of Egypt For a topic outline on this subject see List of basic Egypt topics. The Fifth Crusade ( 1217 &ndash 1221) was an attempt to take back Jerusalem and the rest of the Holy Land by first conquering the powerful This article is about the canonical books of the New Testament Saracen was a term used by Europeans in the Middle Ages for Fatimids at first then later for all who professed the religion of Islam. He met with the Sultan Malek-al-Kamel, marking the beginning of a spirit of dialogue and understanding between Christianity and Islam. Al-Kamil (الكامل ( epithet: al-Malik al-Kamel Naser al-Din Abu al-Ma'ali Muhammed) (1180-1238 was an Ayyubid Sultan of Kurdish Christianity ( Greek Χριστιανισμός from the word Xριστός ( Christ)is a monotheistic Religion centered on the life and teachings For other meanings including people named 'Islam' see Islam (disambiguation. The Franciscan presence in the Holy Land started in 1217, when the province of Syria was established, with Brother Elias as Minister. Syria ( سوريّة or) officially the Syrian Arab Republic (Arabic ar الجمهورية العربية السورية By 1229, the friars had a small house near the fifth station of the Via Dolorosa. Via Dolorosa ( Latin for "Way of Grief" or "Way of Suffering" is a street in the Old City of Jerusalem. In 1272 the sultan Baibars allowed the Franciscans to settle in the Cenacle on Mount Sion. Baibars, or al-Malik al-Zahir Rukn al-Din Baybars al-Bunduqdari ( Arabic ar الملك‭ ‬الظاهر‭ ‬ركن‭ ‬الدين‭ ‬بيبرس‭ ‬البندقداري Cenacle has a modern and a biblical meaning After the 19th century Cenacle is used for a small gathering of specialists (esp Later on, in 1309, they also settled in the Holy Sepulchre and in Bethlehem. The Church of the Holy Sepulchre (Sanctum Sepulchrum also called the Church of the Resurrection, ( Greek: Ναός της Αναστάσεως Naos tis Anastaseos Bethlehem ( بيت لحم,, lit "House of Meat" Βηθλεέμ Bethleém בית לחם Beit Lehem, lit "House of Bread" is a In 1335 King Robert d'Angiò of Naples, and his wife, Sancia di Maiorca, bought the Cenacle and gave it to the Franciscans. Pope Clement VI, by the Bulls "Gratias agimus" and "Nuper charissimae" (1342), declared the Franciscans as the official custodians of the Holy Places in the name of the Catholic Church. Pope Clement VI (1291 &ndash December 6, 1352) born Pierre Roger, the fourth of the Avignon Popes, was Pope from May 1342 until his The [9] Franciscan Custody of the Holy Land is still in force today.

Contributions

The Franciscans established the Studium Biblicum Franciscanum as an academic society based in Jerusalem and Hong Kong for the study of scripture. Studium Biblicum Franciscanum is a Franciscan Academic society based in Jerusalem and Hong Kong. A learned society is an Organization that exists to promote an Academic discipline or group of disciplines Jerusalem (יְרוּשָׁלַיִם, he-Latn Yerushaláyim; Arabic: ar القُدس, ar-Latn al-Quds) is the Hong Kong ( officially the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, is a territory located on China 's south coast on the Pearl River Delta, and borders The Hong Kong branch founded by the Venerable Gabriele Allegra produced the first complete translation of the Catholic Bible in Chinese in 1968 after a 40 year effort[10]. Hong Kong ( officially the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, is a territory located on China 's south coast on the Pearl River Delta, and borders The Venerable is used as a style or epithet in several Christian churches. Gabriele Allegra ( December 26, 1907 – † January 26, 1976) was a Franciscan Friar and scripture scholar Catholic is an Adjective derived from the Greek adjective '' / 'katholikos' meaning "whole" or "complete". Etymology According to the Online Etymology Dictionary, the word bible is from Latin biblia, traced from the same word through Medieval Latin and Late Latin The Studium Biblicum Translation is often considered the Chinese Bible among Catholics. The Studium Biblicum Version is the predominant Chinese language translation of the Bible used by Chinese Catholics.

The early efforts of another Franciscan, namely Giovanni di Monte Corvino, who had attempted a first translation of the Bible in Beijing in the 14th century provided the initial spark for Gabriele Allegra's 40 year undertaking, when at the age of 21 he happened to attend the 6th centenary celebration for Monte Corvino. John of Montecorvino, or Giovanni Da/di Montecorvino in Italian also spelled Monte Corvino (1246 Montecorvino, Southern Italy - 1328 Gabriele Allegra ( December 26, 1907 – † January 26, 1976) was a Franciscan Friar and scripture scholar

See also

Notes

  1. ^ "The Rule of the Franciscan Order" from the Medieval Sourcebook
  2. ^ Franciscan Friars, TOR. The Association of Franciscan Colleges and Universities or AFCU is an association of 20 Franciscan colleges and universities located in Milwaukee, This is a list of the ministers general of the Order of Friars Minor. The Order of Friars Minor Conventual (OFM Conv commonly known as the Conventual Franciscans, is a branch of the order of Roman Catholic Friars founded The Lourdes Health System consists of two hospitals Our Lady of Lourdes Medical Center in Camden New Jersey and Lourdes Medical Center of Burlington County The Franciscan Orders. Retrieved on 2007-07-10. Year 2007 ( MMVII) was a Common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar in the 21st century. Events 48 BC - Battle of Dyrrhachium, Julius Caesar barely avoids a catastrophic defeat to Pompey in Macedonia.
  3. ^ Franciscans International
  4. ^ The Order of Servant Franciscans
  5. ^ Tifpecusa
  6. ^ Padre Pio - Britannica Concise Encyclopedia - The online encyclopedia you can trust!
  7. ^ stigmata. The Columbia Encyclopedia, Sixth Edition. 2001-07
  8. ^ Padre Pio: Biography and Much More from Answers.com
  9. ^ Franciscan Custody of the Holy Land
  10. ^ http://www.sbofmhk.org Studium Biblicum Franciscanum Hong Kong

References

Books

Articles

External links

Official websites of the three branches of First Order

Official websites of Regular and Secular Third Order

Anglican Franciscan links

First Order (Society of Saint Francis, SSF)

First Order (Community of Saint Francis, CSF)

Second Order (Community of Saint Clare, OSC)

Third Order (TSSF)

Third Order (OSF)

Korean Franciscan Brotherhood (KFB)

Dictionary

Franciscan

-noun

  1. A monk or nun belonging to the religious order founded by St Francis of Assisi.

-adjective

  1. Pertaining to St Francis or to the Franciscans.
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