The Order of the Franciscans and its history

The Order of the Franciscans was one of the most influential and powerful in the history of the Christian church. Followers of it exist to this day. The Order was named after its founder, St. 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 necessity of the appearance of priests who would not be affected by secular affairs and were able to show the purity of faith by their own example. The churches 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.

Prehistory of the Order

St. Francis of Assisi is the patron of Italy. In the world he was called Giovanni Bernardone. St. Francis of Assisi - the founder of the Order of the Franciscans. Giovanni Bernardon was born approximately in the period from 1181 to 1182 years. The exact date of his birth is unknown. Initially, Francis was a ladies' man, but after a series of events in his life he changed a lot.

He became very devout, helped the poor, looked after the sick in the leper colony, was content with bad clothes, giving good things to the needy. Gradually around Francis gathered a circle of followers. In the period from 1207 to 1208 years. Giovanni Bernardone was founded by the brotherhood of the Minorites. On its basis, then came the Order of the Franciscans.

Creation of the Order

The Minorite Brotherhood existed until 1209. The organization was new to the church. The Minorites tried to imitate Christ and the apostles, reproduce their lives. The Charter of the Brotherhood was written. In April 1209, it received oral approval from the Pope St. Innocent III, who welcomed the activities of the community. As a result, the official foundation of the order of the Franciscans was firmly entrenched. From that time on, 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 follow the ascetic regulations, but could at the same time live among ordinary people and even have a family. The monastic attire was worn by the tertiaries at will.

Written confirmation of the existence of the Order was held in 1223 by Pope Honorius the Third. During the approval of the brotherhood of Saint Innocent III, only twelve men stood before him. When Saint died. Francis, the community numbered almost 10,000 followers. Every year they became more and more.

The Statute of the Order of St. Francis

The Charter of the Order of the Franciscans, approved in 1223, was divided into seven chapters. In the first one was called to observe the gospel, obedience and purity. The second explained the conditions that must be met by those wishing to enter the order. To do this, the new novices had to sell the property and distribute everything to the poor. After that, a year to walk in a robe, belted rope. Follow-up clothing was only allowed to wear old and simple. Shoes were worn only when necessary.

Chapter Three spoke of fasting and how to carry faith in the world. Before morning, the Franciscans read the "Our Father" 24 times, in a few hours - 5. At one of four hours a day - 7 more times, in the evening - 12, at night - 7. The first fast was observed from the celebration of the All Saints' Day until Christmas . Required was a 40-day fast and many others. According to the Charter, condemnation, quarrels and verbal fights were forbidden. The Franciscans were to bring up humility, submission, peace, modesty and other positive qualities that did not diminish the dignity and rights of others.

The fourth chapter dealt with money. Members of the order were forbidden to take coins for themselves or others. The fifth chapter spoke about work. All healthy members of the brotherhood could work, but provided that the number of prayers read and the time that was clearly written for it were observed. For work instead of money members of the order could take only what was necessary for their own or brotherly needs. And to take the earned pledged humbly and with gratitude, even in the smallest quantities.

The sixth chapter spoke of the prohibition of theft and the rules for collecting alms. Members of the order were supposed to accept alms and shame without embarrassment and shame, to help other members of the brotherhood, especially the sick and infirm.

The seventh chapter told about the punishments that were applied to the sinners. This was due to penance.

In the eighth chapter, the ruling brethren were described, which had to be addressed in resolving serious issues. Also obey ministers of the order unquestioningly. The procedure of continuity after the death of a high-ranking brother or his re-election for serious reasons was described.

In the ninth chapter, it was told about the prohibition of preaching in the diocese of the bishop (without his permission). It was forbidden to do this without a preliminary examination, which was surrendered in the order. The sermons of the members of the brotherhood were to be simple, understandable and thoughtful. Phrases - short, but full of profundity about vices and virtues, about glory and punishment.

In the tenth chapter, it was explained how to correct and exhort the brethren who violated the Charter. To address the higher monks followed with the slightest hesitation in faith, unclean conscience, etc. The brothers were called upon to be protected from pride, vanity, envy, etc. Members of the order could not be taught literacy, and an obligation to reflect, and also to love enemies and Pray for those who offend.

A separate chapter (eleventh) was about visiting women's monasteries. This was prohibited without special permission. The Franciscans did not have the right to be godfathers. The last, twelfth chapter spoke of the permission that the brothers of the order should have received in order to try to convert the Saracens and infidels into the Christian faith.

At the end of the Charter, attention was drawn to the fact that it is forbidden to revoke or change established rules.

Clothes of the Franciscans

Clothes Franciscans began, too, with the Holy. Francis. According to legend, he exchanged specially with a beggar. Francis took his plain clothes and, having refused the sash, girded himself with a simple rope. Since then, every monk of the Order of the Franciscans began to dress the same way.

The names of the Franciscans

In England they were called "gray brothers", according to the color of dresses. In France, the members of the order had the name "cordeliers" because of a simple rope around their belts. In Germany, the Franciscans were called "barefooted" thanks to sandals that were worn on a bare foot. In Italy the followers of Francis were called "brothers".

Development of the Order of the Franciscans

The Order of the Franciscans, whose representatives are pictured in this article, was first led by John Parenti, after the death of the founder, then by General Elijah of Cortona, a disciple of St. Francis. His connections and intimacy with the teacher during his life helped strengthen the position of the brotherhood. Elijah created a clear system of government, the division of the Order into provinces. Franciscan schools were opened, the construction of temples and monasteries was launched.

The construction of the majestic Gothic basilica in Assisi, in honor of St. Francis. The authority of Elijah was strengthened every year. For construction and other projects large sums of money were required. As a result, the provincial contributions were increased. Their resistance began. This led to the fact that Elijah was removed from the leadership of the brotherhood in 1239.

Gradually, the order of the Franciscans instead of the wanderer became increasingly hierarchical, sedentary. This is even during his lifetime, St. Francis, and he not only refused the head of the brotherhood, but also in 1220 completely departed from the leadership of the community. But since St. Francis vowed obedience, he did not oppose the changes that had taken place in the order. St. Francis finally withdrew from the leadership of the brotherhood after a trip to the East.

Transformation of the Order into a monastic structure

During the reign of Corton, the mendicant Franciscan order began to be delineated into two main movements, in which the covenants of St. Francis and his attitude to compliance with the Charter and poverty were 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 Charter in their own way.

In 1517, Pope Leo the Tenth officially singled out two different groups in the Order of the Franciscans. Both directions became independent. The first group was called the Observers, that is, the Minorite brothers, who strictly observed all the rules of St. Francis. The second group was called the convention. They interpreted the Order's Charter in a slightly different way. In 1525 a new offshoot emerged from the fraternity of the Franciscans - Capuchins. They became a reformist trend among minority observatories. In 1528, Clement Fifth, a new branch was recognized as a separate brotherhood. At the end of XIX century. All groups of observatories were combined into one, which became known as the Order of the Lesser Brothers. Pope Leo the Eighth gave the name to this brotherhood the "Leonian Unia".

The church used the sermons of St. Francis for his own purposes. As a result, the fraternity was supported by different sections of the population. It turned out that the order was heading to the right direction of the church. As a result, the originally founded organization became a monastic order. The Franciscans Received the right of the Inquisition over the heretics. In the political field, they began to fight the opponents of the popes.

Dominicans and Franciscans: the sphere of education

The orders of the Franciscans and Dominicans belonged to the mendicant. Founded brotherhoods were almost at the same time. But their goals differed slightly. The main task of the Dominican order was a profound study of theology. The goal is the preparation of literate preachers. The second task is to fight against heresy, to bring the Divine Truth into the world.

In 1256 the Franciscans were granted the right to teach in universities. As a result, the Order created a whole system of theological education. This gave rise to many thinkers during the Middle Ages and the Renaissance. During the New Age, missionary and research activities became more active. Many Franciscans began to work in the possessions of the Spaniards and in the East.

One of the directions of Franciscan philosophy was associated with natural and exact sciences. And even more than with theology and mathematics. A new direction was presented at Oxford University. The first professor from the Franciscans was Robert Grossetest. Subsequently, he became a bishop.

Robert Grossetest was an outstanding scientist of that time. He became one of the first who drew attention to the need for the application of mathematics during the study of nature. The most famous for the professor was the concept of creating the world with light.

Franciscan Order in the XVIII-XIX centuries

In the eighteenth century, the Order of the Franciscans had about 1,700 monasteries and nearly twenty-five thousand monks. The Brotherhood (and its analogies) was abolished in many European states during the Great and bourgeois revolutions of the nineteenth century. By the end of it the order was restored in Spain, and then in Italy. Their example was followed by France, and then by other countries.

Characteristics of the Order of the Franciscans before 1220

The Order followed all the rules of the Charter until 1220. During this period Franciscans followers wore brown woolen tunics and girded with simple ropes, wandering in sandals on bare feet wandered around the world with sermons.

The Brotherhood tried not only to spread Christian ideals, but also to observe them, to implement them. While preaching poverty, the Franciscans themselves ate the most stale bread, speaking of humility, obediently listening to abuse, etc. The followers of the Order themselves set a vivid example of observing vows, were fanatically devoted to the Christian faith.

Franciscans in modern times

The Order of Franciscans in our time exists in many Russian and European cities. They are engaged in pastoral, publishing and charitable activities. Franciscans teach in educational institutions, visit prisons and nursing homes.

In our time for the priests and brothers of the Order there is also a special program of monastic training. First, the candidates undergo spiritual and scientific training. It consists of several stages:

1. The first step is Postulate. This is one trial year, for which there is a general acquaintance with the order. For this purpose, the candidates live in a monastic community.
2. The second stage is Novitiate. This is a period of one year, when the candidate enters monastic life. Prepare for temporary vows.
3. The third stage lasts six years. During this period, candidates receive higher education in the field of philosophy and theology. Also there is daily spiritual preparation. In the fifth year of training eternal vows are brought, on the sixth - ordination.

Branch of the Order in Modern Time

Initially, there was only the first Franciscan order, which included only men. This brotherhood is now divided into three main branches:

1. The smaller brothers (in 2010 there were almost 15,000 monks there).
2. Conventual (4231 monks of the Order of the Franciscans).
3. Capuchin (the number of people in this branch is almost 11 thousand).

Conclusion on the activities of the Order of the Franciscans

The Order of the Franciscans has existed for eight centuries. During this rather long period, the brotherhood has made a great contribution not only to church development, but also to world culture. The contemplative side of the Order is perfectly combined with active activity. The Order, together with the branches, numbers almost 30,000 monks and thousands of laymen who live in Germany, Italy, the United States and many other countries.

Franciscan monks from the very beginning aspired to asceticism. During the existence of the Order, they experienced the separation and establishment of individual communities. In many there were increasingly strict rules. In the XIX century there was a reverse trend. Disparate communities began to unite. This was greatly contributed by Pope Leo the Third. It was he who united all the groups into one - the Order of the Lesser Brothers.