Week 9: Francis and Dominic - Poverty and City Life

San Damiano Cross

Although unsure of the exact year of the birth of Saint Francis, currently believed to be 1181 or 1182, historians can be sure that the time of his birth was one of economic and social strength and evolution. By the year 1000, the population of Europe had seen massive inflation, doubling itself in comparison to earlier times. Due to the massive influx of people, means for their provision needed to be obtained if they were to survive and society was to sustain itself. As such, technology advanced to allow for greater efficiency and effectiveness in the harvesting of food, seeing the system of yoking coming into place – the practice of replacing ox with horses and utilising field rotations, for example.  Another product of the boom in population was the increase in jobs and work. Existing businesses were able to expand and employ more people with the associated higher demand, and new businesses and stores saw a large increase in number. But for these to thrive, they needed to be accessible, and thus, the concept of “town” was born. Society soon became urbanised and towns became central hubs for trading as well as other facets of peoples’ daily lives. Towns gave a solidarity to the society of Western Europe, unifying people into larger collectives and thus, dealing a major blow to the systems of feudalism and manorialism. In fact, many who called the town home were those peasants and serfs who had once found themselves bound under these archaic structures. With the boom in towns, however, the population found themselves deep in sin more often, with unholy temptations dangled before them with an ease of accessibility, and as such, the Church had great difficulty adjusting to this new urbanised society.

Change in the religious structure

During the time of St Francis, the Church had begun to undergo a great number of reforms due to the changing society around them. In response to the growth in urbanization and general wealth as well as the increase in large towns, the Church chose to fully separate itself from society and become its own independent institution, not connected to the government or imperial society in any way. These changes to Church life were called the Gregorian reform, and it held a great focus on a return to the sources of Christianity. This meant in practice a return to true monastic poverty and a large emphasis on manual labor as a means of resisting what was perceived as a great increase in vice in their society. The reforms of the Church had three main components; establishing new religious orders, the acceptance of the canonical movement, and the acceptance of more diverse forms of worship, that is, the acceptance of various orders and Churches under the same banner of Christianity.

From this reform a number of different orders were formed, such as the Carthusians, who returned to a life of hermitage with a focus on meditation and prayer and the Cisterians, who chose to adapt to the new environment of industrialism and economic prosperity, using mills, farms and metallurgy to make their life easier and allowing them to spend more of their time in spiritual pursuits.

However, even though the idea of ecclesiastical diversity was preached openly, the Church did openly condemn and excommunicate those religious orders who differed too greatly from the norm due to the threat to the Churches monopoly on preaching.

St Francis

Francesco Bernardone (born Giovanni Francesco di Bernardone) was born to a wealthy merchant (Pietro Bernardone) and his wife, Pica Bernardone, who lived in Assisi, Italy. After a failed war attempt which resulted in him being a prisoner, he heard God speak to him, 'go and repair my house'. Whilst following the orders meant that he became estranged from his father, he rebuilt the Church of St Damian.

'Preach, saying the Kingdom of Heaven is at hand... have no gold, nor silver, nor money in your purses, nor scrip for your journey, nor two coats, nor shoes, nor a staff.'

Historians generally believe that it was around the 24th of February 1209, that Francis heard these words and dramatically began to change his lifestyle. Although he had heard them before, it was in this particular moment that he realised what the true meaning of discipleship was to him. He wanted to fulfil all of the words literally and began with his clothing. He changed into more simple attire, even removing his leather belt and finding a cheaper and more basic piece of rope. Even though St Francis had had a childhood of luxuries, he felt that establishing a true connection to God meant that he had to live a life of poverty in a society that was becoming more centred on materialistic possessions.

St Francis was well known for his healing abilities, as well as his connection to animals and after passing away in 1226, he was canonised two years later and the first biography, by Thomas of Celano, was written in 1230. St Francis had not only established the Franciscan Order that was approved by Pope Honorius III in 1210 but had developed the nativity scene and had shown the European community that a more personal relationship could be developed with God.

St Francis – The Patron Saint of Animals, Merchants and Ecology

 

 

 

The Franciscans

The main focus of the Franciscan order was a life of poverty. Franciscan friars were forbidden to own any form of property or possess any money, their Churches were simple in structure, with little on architecture, and members of the order were required to live off manual labor and begging. As opposed to other orders of the time, the Franciscans chose not to live cloistered away from society and chose to live and preach among people, inhabiting cities and towns and preaching openly to the public. 

Franciscan friar

The Dominicans

The Dominicans were another Order that were confirmed by Pope Honorius III in 1216 and had adopted the rule of St Augustine. The Constitution of the Dominicans clearly stated that there was to be no manual labour, which would allow more time for studying and preaching. 

The Franciscans and Dominicans are just two examples of the ways in which people replied to the changing society of Europe to maintain their connection to God.

By Alex Elkington, Ryan Joseph and Lauren Schutz.

Question for blog discussion: How did the urbanisation of Europe encourage the need for evolution of the Church?