The Franciscan Order is a movement existing long before the 21st Century, throughout the years it has transformed from a small faction of Christianity to a globally distinguished tradition that many people cultivate today. But without the service of one individual, the ‘brotherhood’ wouldn’t be as renowned as it is today. St Anthony of Padua played a significant part when it came to shaping the course of Franciscanism. In a period of war, turmoil, heresy and personal greed, St Anthony was the ‘knight in shining armour’ using everything but violence to resolve the evils in the world. This research essay will cover Anthony’s involvement in the tradition, from his life in the ‘foundational period’, where the origins of the brotherhood lay, to …show more content…
St Anthony is acclaimed for being a powerful and illustrious preacher, a teacher and being the patron saint of lost and stolen articles. St Anthony’s rise to becoming one of the Franciscans most respected preachers started back in 1222, while attending the Ordination of Dominicans and Franciscans a group of friars, including himself was asked to deliver a sermon. Surprisingly many of them ducked down at the request and it was St Anthony that rose up and delivered what was supposed to be a ‘simple’ sermon, he blew the crowd away with a heartfelt address, preaching in a humble, artless way. “The fire within him became evident.” (Shrine, 2012) A diverse source even states that, “Perhaps we would never have heard of Anthony if he hadn’t gone to an ordination of Dominicans and Franciscans in 1222” (Foley, 2014) After that he started preaching all over Northern Italy and Southern France, converting many cities that were full of heretics and showing them the wonders of Christianity. In the later years, after completing 400 trips around Italy he was asked by St Francis to teach theology to young friars, afraid that St Anthony would take pride in his education like many other preachers (study in St Augustine’s), St Francis was worried that Anthony would turn out the same. Anthony reassured St Francis he would stay faithful to the tradition and started …show more content…
One of the reasons that made St Anthony such a renowned preacher is because when confronted with heretics, instead of proving them wrong he tried to win them over by showing the wonders of Christianity. He showed people the rewards that came with being a Christian, presenting them with the cleanliness of reconciliation and the gift of the Eucharist. Today many preachers (fathers) take after St Anthony’s unique style of preaching, during mass they express the marvels of Christianity and why people should live every day in Jesus’ footsteps. “Adhesion to the faith is not the result of coercion, but of proposals and convictions matured with respect for the enigma of each person” (Padua, 2014). This source essentially states that the better preaching abilities you had, the more chance you had of converting/influencing people (heretics), but back in Anthony’s times, people (Crusaders) thought it was easier to foster violence, a diverging source states, “Fear and violence ruled people’s lives and the kind of hysteria and suffering of individuals that were accused of heresy.” (Goldberg, 2009) Another imprint St Anthony left on the world and Order includes his teachings. St Anthony’s teachings of Jesus and St Francis were carried along throughout generations, friars passing it onto other friars and now
Saint Christopher, the patron saint of travelers and children, is one of the most popular yet mysterious saints of the Catholic Church. Though considered a saint. Saint Christopher is not in the official canon of the saints, and not much is really known about him. It is theorized that Saint Christopher was actually a martyr named Reprobus who was beheaded in the third century.
The Military Orders, including the Templars and Hospitallers, were created to protect pilgrims on the route to Jerusalem, but grew into ranks of professional soldiers with a great presence in the East, answerable to the Papacy. These orders “grew rapidly and acquired castles at strategic points in the kingdom and northern states. […] They were soon established in Europe as well, they became international organizations, virtually independent, sanctioned and constantly supported by the papacy” (Madden). The Pope possessed, for the first time, a dedicated military force in Europe. These two outcomes indicate the growth of the Church’s power as a result of the First Crusade, and support the proposition that the Papacy intended it as a way for advancing its political and economic position.
September 16, 1968, a famous songwriter, actor, and singer was born in New York City (Biography.com). This famous person is one known around the world, whether you know him from his ex-wife Jennifer Lopez or listened to his music. This person is the infamous Puerto Rican Marco Antonio Muñiz, otherwise known as Marc Anthony. Although not born in Puerto Rico, Marc Anthony’s music influences many people around the world including South America and the United States.
through the ranks of the church and had the utmost respect of the people of
Francis of Assisi is one of the most influential personalities in the entire world. In the book ‘Francis of Assisi: Performing the Gospel Life,’ Cunningham recounts the life of this humble monk who lived in the medieval times, and shaped the Christian life, which spread in Western culture throughout the rest of history. I believe Cunningham accurately accounts for the life of Francis of Assisi, and in doing so; he provides a trajectory of the Christian faith from its early and historical proponents through its fusion with western culture, and its subsequent spread throughout the world.
St. Francis was an Italian Catholic and a talented poet. As an Italian, his heart moved naturally to deep affection, love and enjoyment. As a poet, he could see right through the outcome of those answers. One night during a dream, he saw his house turned into a palace. The walls of this palace were hung with glorious armory, banners, shields, and swords – all instruments of war. Suddenly he heard a voice, it explained that this was to be his palace, the gathering place for all his knights. The arms were theirs, the banners, and tokens of their countless conquests. To complete this wonderful dream, a gorgeous bride awaited him. St. Francis awoke charmed. A few days after that, he left Assisi to go to Southern Italy to enlist. He reached Spoleto, wh...
Francis was born at Assisi in Umbria in the early 1180’s. His fath er was Pietro Bernadone, a very wealthy cloth merchant. His baptized name was Giovanni but it was changed to Francesco. Francis received a decent amount of schooling as a child although he did not show much interest in it. He was very spoiled and did not want to go into his father’s business. He had high status, was handsome, wore fine clothing, and was very well known with the people of Assisi.
Saint Francis was very devoted to God and wanted to become a priest and to become a servant of God at a very early age.
The Knights Templar were the manifestation of a "new chivalry" which united the seemingly incompatible roles of monk and warrior. As the first religious military order, these dedicated men were models for successive orders including the Order of the Hospital of St. John of Jerusalem, later known as the Hospitallers, and the Teutonic Knights of the Hospital of St. Mary, two contemporary, rival brotherhoods. These and other orders, flourishing during the 12th-14th centuries as protectors of the Holy Land, were the first standing troops to be properly trained and commanded in Western Europe since the fall of the Roman Empire (Seward 17). The extraordinary story of the Knights Templar ranges from its humble establishment to a period of extreme prosperity, and, finally, to a tragic, haunting conclusion.
Throughout the ten-century, particularly in France, the world had become an extremely violent place. Feudal Knights were often quarreling over land possession, looting, and looking to lay people to provide them with sustenance . Likewise, the power of these knights and the extent of violence flourished due to the increasingly lacking power and authority of the kings . The Church, in an attempt to halt the violence and anarchy attempted to take control and issued such concepts as “the Peace of God” . Similarly, at this time other movements for peace by the Church were underway, and one of the commonly held ideas was the need to transform the world to more “monkish ideals”. From these ideals also sprouted the concept of the laity having “God-given functions to perform, functions that could include fighting to protect the Church”. Pope Leo IX (1049-1054) is an example of this idea; he often used militia to fight against his opponents. In the early eleventh century, there came a pivotal figure in the ideas of Church sanctioned war, Pope Gregory VII (1073-1085). Pope Gregory was involved in the Investiture Contest, and soon turned to scholars to seek out “justification for his conviction that violence could be used in defense of the Church and could be authorized by it”. The movements generated by Pope Gregory, as well as the results of the Inve...
Robson, Micheal. Saint Francis of Assisi: The Legend and the Life. London: Geoffrey Chappan, 1997.
The Catholic Encyclopedia. New York: Robert Appleton Company. Retrieved February 21, 2010 from New Advent: http://www.newadvent.org
Lombard’s ministry was partly as his role of Bishop of Paris but secondly was his role as a Theological Writer, with The Four Books of Sentences, the sermons, and the two Biblical Commentaries. His fame and ministry were partly due to his book The four Books of Sentences Many in the early Middle Ages where overwhelmed by the sheer quantity of theological opinions, disputations, and distinctions, stemming from the church and rapidly growing in size and diversity. Students in the schools, teachers in the monasteries, preachers in the pulpits desperately, needed a handbook. Peter Lombard wrote it and it was titled The Four Books of Sentences. The Life of Peter Lombard was, to say the least, successful and has an effect on why he is still remembered after over 800 years.
Saint Francis of Assisi was a uniquely spiritual man who gave up a life of wealth and position to lead a life of poverty in accordance and service to God. Embracing a life according to the Gospels, Francis went on to establish a Monastic Order, known as the Franciscans. In the midst of the political climate within the religious community of Italy, Francis emerged a champion for the poor and sick, with humility and no regard for himself. Francis exhibited his love for God through his love and admiration for all of God's creation including nature. The principles of Saint Francis are as relevant today as they were in thirteenth century Italy; service and love to all of God’s creation.
Pollen, John Hungerford. "The Jesuits During the Interim (1773-1814)." The Catholic Encyclopedia. Vol. 14. New York: Robert Appleton Company, 1912. 23 Mar. 2014 .