The Franciscan order was one of the most influential and powerful in the history of the Christian Church. His followers exist to this day. The order was named after its founder, Saint Francis. The Franciscans played a huge role in world history, especially in the Middle Ages.
The goals of creating monastic orders
The emergence of religious orders was due to the need for the emergence of priests who would not be affected by secular affairs and were able to show the purity of faith by their own example. The Church needed dogmatists to fight heresy in all its manifestations. At first, the orders corresponded to the tasks set, but gradually, over the years, everything began to change. But first things first.
The background of the Order
Saint Francis of Assisi is the patron saint of Italy. In the world he was called Giovanni Bernardone. Saint Francis of Assisi is the founder of the Franciscan order. Giovanni Bernardone was born approximately between 1181 and 1182. A more precise date of his birth is unknown. Initially, Francis was a womanizer, but after a series of events in his life, he changed a lot.
He became very pious, helped the poor, nursed the sick in the leper colony, contented himself with bad clothes, giving good things to those in need. Gradually, a circle of followers gathered around Francis. In the period from 1207 to 1208. Giovanni Bernardone founded the Minorite Brotherhood. Based on it, the Franciscan order later arose.
Creation of the Order
The Minor Brotherhood existed until 1209. The organization was new to the church. The Minorites tried to imitate Christ and the apostles, to reproduce their life. The Charter of the Brotherhood was written. In April 1209, it received verbal approval from Pope Saint Innocent III, who welcomed the activities of the community. As a result, the official foundation of the Franciscan order was finally consolidated. Since that time, the ranks of the Minorites began to replenish with women, for whom a second brotherhood was established.
The third order of the Franciscans was founded in 1212. It was called the "brotherhood of tertiaries". Its members had to observe the ascetic charter, but at the same time they could live among ordinary people and even have a family. The monastic robe was worn in tertiaries at will.
Written approval of the existence of the order took place in 1223 by Pope Honorius the Third. During the approval of the brotherhood by Saint Innocent III, only twelve people stood before him. When St. died. Francis, the community numbered almost 10,000 followers. Every year there were more and more of them.
Charter of the Order of St. Francis
The charter of the Franciscan order, approved in 1223, was divided into sevenchapters The first called for the observance of the gospel, obedience and purity. The second explained the conditions that must be met by those wishing to join the order. To do this, new novices were obliged to sell their property and distribute everything to the poor. After that, a year to walk in a cassock, girded with a rope. Subsequent clothes were allowed to be worn only old and simple. Shoes were worn only when necessary.
Chapter three was about fasting and how to bring faith to the world. Before morning, the Franciscans read "Our Father" 24 times, a few hours later - 5. At one of the four hours a day - another 7 times, in the evening - 12, at night - 7. The first fast was observed from the celebration of All Saints' Day until Christmas. A 40-day fast was obligatory and many others. According to the Charter, condemnation, quarrels and verbal fights were prohibited. The Franciscans were supposed to cultivate humility, humility, peacefulness, modesty and other positive qualities that do not detract from the dignity and rights of other people.
The fourth chapter was about money. Members of the order were forbidden to take coins for themselves or others. The fifth chapter was about work. All he althy members of the brotherhood could work, but subject to the number of prayers read and the time that was clearly scheduled for this. For work, instead of money, members of the order could take only what was necessary for their own or fraternal needs. Moreover, he undertook to accept what he earned humbly and with gratitude, even in the smallest quantities.
The sixth chapter was about the prohibition of theft and the rules for collectingalms. Members of the order had to accept alms without embarrassment and shame, to help other members of the brotherhood, especially the sick and infirm.
The seventh chapter spoke about the punishments that were applied to those who sinned. Penance was due for this.
The eighth chapter described the leading brothers who needed to be approached in resolving serious issues. Also obey the ministers of the order implicitly. Described the procedure for succession after the death of a high-ranking brother or his re-election for serious reasons.
The ninth chapter told about the prohibition of sermons in the diocese of the bishop (without his permission). It was forbidden to do this without a preliminary exam, which was taken in the order. The sermons of the members of the brotherhood had to be simple, understandable and thoughtful. Phrases - short, but filled with deep content about vices and virtues, about fame and punishment.
The tenth chapter explained how to correct and exhort brothers who violated the Rule. It was necessary to turn to higher monks at the slightest hesitation in faith, an unclean conscience, etc. The brothers were urged to beware of pride, vanity, envy, etc. pray for those who offend.
A separate chapter (eleventh) was about visiting women's monasteries. It was forbidden without special permission. Franciscans were not eligible to be godfathers. The last, twelfth chapter was aboutthe permission that the brothers of the order had to receive in order to try to convert the Saracens and infidels to the Christian faith.
At the end of the Charter, it was separately noted that it is prohibited to cancel or change the established rules.
Franciscan clothes
The clothing of the Franciscans also began with St. Francis. According to legend, he specifically exchanged clothes with a beggar. Francis took his nondescript dress and, refusing the sash, girded himself with a simple rope. Since then, every monk of the Franciscan order began to dress the same way.
Franciscan names
In England they were called "grey brothers" after the color of their dresses. In France, the members of the order had the name "Cordeliers" because of the simple rope that encircled them. In Germany, the Franciscans were called "barefoot" because of the sandals that were worn on their bare feet. In Italy, the followers of Francis were called "brothers".
Development of the Franciscan Order
The Order of the Franciscans, the photo of whose representatives is in this article, after the death of the founder, was first led by John Parenti, then by General Elijah of Kortonsky, a student of St. Francis. His connections and intimacy with a teacher during his lifetime helped solidify the brotherhood's position. Elijah created a clear system of government, the division of the order into provinces. Franciscan schools were opened, the construction of churches and monasteries began.
The construction of the majestic Gothic basilica in Assisi, in honor of St. Francis. The authority of Elijah grew stronger every year. For construction andother projects required large sums of money. As a result, provincial contributions were increased. Their resistance began. This resulted in Elijah being removed from leadership of the brotherhood in 1239
Gradually the order of the Franciscans instead of wandering became more and more hierarchical, sedentary. Even during his lifetime, this disgusted St. Francis, and he not only abandoned the head of the brotherhood, but in 1220 he completely withdrew from the leadership of the community. But since St. Francis took a vow of obedience, he did not resist the changes that were taking place in the order. St. Francis finally stepped down from the leadership of the brotherhood after a trip to the East.
Transforming an order into a monastic structure
During the reign of Cortona, the mendicant order of the Franciscans began to be divided into two main movements, in which the precepts of St. Francis and his attitude towards the observance of the Charter and poverty have been understood in different ways. Some members of the brotherhood tried to follow the rules of the founder of the order, living in poverty and humility. Others began to interpret the Bylaws in their own way.
In 1517, Pope Leo the Tenth officially singled out two different groups in the Franciscan order. Both directions became independent. The first group was called observants, that is, minority brothers, who strictly observed all the rules of St. Francis. The second group became known as conventuals. They interpreted the Charter of the order somewhat differently. In 1525, a new branch was formed from the Franciscan brotherhood - the Capuchins. They became a reformist movement among the Minorites-observants. In 1528 the new offshoot was recognized by Clement V as a separate brotherhood. At the end of the XIX century. all groups of observants were united into one, which became known as the Order of the Lesser Brothers. Pope Leo Eighth gave the name to this brotherhood "Leonian Union".
The Church used the sermons of St. Francis for his own purposes. As a result, the brotherhood was supported by different segments of the population. It turned out that the order was heading in the right direction for the church. As a result, the originally founded organization turned into a monastic order. The Franciscans received the right to inquisition over heretics. In the political field, they began to fight against the opponents of the popes.
Dominicans and Franciscans: the field of education
The Franciscan and Dominican orders belonged to beggars. The brotherhoods were founded almost simultaneously. But their goals were slightly different. The main task of the Dominican order was a deep study of theology. The goal is to train competent preachers. The second task is the fight against heresy, bringing the Divine truth into the world.
In 1256 the Franciscans were granted the right to teach at the universities. As a result, the order created a whole system of theological education. This gave rise to many thinkers during the Medieval and Renaissance periods. During the New Age, missionary and research activities intensified. Many Franciscans began to work in the possessions of the Spaniards and in the East.
One of the areas of Franciscan philosophy was associated with natural and exact sciences. And evento a greater extent than with theology and mataphysics. A new direction was introduced at Oxford University. The first Franciscan professor was Robert Grosseteste. He subsequently became a bishop.
Robert Grosseteste was an outstanding scientist of that time. He was one of the first to draw attention to the need to apply mathematics during the study of nature. The professor is most famous for the concept of creating the world with light.
Franciscan order in the XVIII-XIX centuries
In the eighteenth century, the Franciscan order had approximately 1,700 monasteries and almost twenty-five thousand monks. Brotherhood (and similar ones) was eliminated in many European states during the Great and bourgeois revolutions of the nineteenth century. By its end, the order was restored in Spain, and then in Italy. France followed suit, and then other countries.
Characteristics of the Franciscan order until 1220
The Order observed all the rules of the Charter until 1220. During this period, the followers of Francis, dressed in woolen brown tunics and girded with simple ropes, in sandals on their bare feet, wandered preaching around the world.
The Brotherhood tried not only to spread Christian ideals, but also to observe them, to put them into practice. Preaching begging, the Franciscans themselves ate the most stale bread, speaking of humility, dutifully listened to abuse, etc. The followers of the order themselves set a vivid example of keeping vows, were fanatically devoted to the Christian faith.
Franciscans in modern times
OrderFranciscans in our time exists in many Russian and European cities. They are engaged in pastoral, publishing and charitable activities. Franciscans teach in schools, visit prisons and nursing homes.
In our time, a special program of monastic training is also provided for priests and brothers of the order. First, candidates undergo spiritual and scientific training. It consists of several stages:
- The first step is Postulate. This is one trial year, during which there is a general acquaintance with the order. To do this, candidates live in a monastic community.
- Second step - Novitiate. This is a period of one year during which the candidate's introduction into the monastic life takes place. Preparations are underway for temporary vows.
- The third step lasts for six years. During this period, candidates receive higher education in philosophy and theology. There is also daily spiritual preparation. In the fifth year of study, eternal vows are made, in the sixth year, ordination.
Offshoots of the order in modern times
Initially, there was only the first Franciscan order, which consisted exclusively of men. This brotherhood is now divided into three main branches:
- The Little Brothers (in 2010 there were almost 15,000 monks).
- Conventual (4231 Franciscan monks).
- Capuchins (the number of people in this branch is almost 11 thousand).
Conclusion on the activities of the Franciscan order
The Franciscan order has been around for eight centuries. For this enoughfor a long period, the brotherhood made a huge contribution not only to church development, but also to world culture. The contemplative side of the order is perfectly combined with vigorous activity. The order, together with branches, has almost 30,000 monks and thousands of lay tertiaries who live in Germany, Italy, the USA and many other countries.
Franciscan monks from the very beginning strove for asceticism. During the existence of the order, they experienced the separation and the founding of separate communities. Many had increasingly strict rules. In the 19th century, the trend was reversed. Disparate communities began to unite. Pope Leo the Third contributed a lot to this. It was he who united all the groups into one - the Order of the Little Brothers.
